It was supposed to be Letsile Tebogo’s night. The stage was set, the spotlight fixed, and the headlines pre-written for a dominant display in Rabat. But under the Moroccan lights, the 100m sprint delivered a plot twist no one saw coming. The Olympic 200m champion, who boldly declared he was chasing a 100 m-200 m double, was not only beaten; he was dismantled. Finishing dead last in a stacked field, Tebogo’s dream of double glory turned into a stunning stumble, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine tore through the pack to steal the show.
Simbine, who’s been on a flawless run in 2025, clocked an electric 9.95 seconds to storm to victory, brushing off challenges from Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05) and America’s Fred Kerley (10.07). But the real shock came a few meters behind them. Where Tebogo cruised in, almost jogging, with a pedestrian 10.43 seconds. He didn’t just lose. He was nowhere near the fight.
For someone who’d confidently set the tone in the press conference, aiming to win both races, the reality on track was brutal. The contrast couldn’t have been sharper. As Simbine powered across the line with arms raised and unbeaten streak intact, Tebogo looked like a man saving his legs for the 200m. Or one who simply didn’t have the spark. Whether it was strategy, fatigue, or just an off night, his finish at the bottom raised eyebrows.
Akani takes ‘em ALL down
In a stacked 100m field in Rabat, Akani Simbine continues his stellar start to the season with a 9.95 victory over Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05) and Fred Kerley (10.07).
Olympic 200m champ Letsile Tebogo finishes last in the field. pic.twitter.com/lJn2T1BVQD
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) May 25, 2025
This was more shocking as Tebogo looked quite confident of achieving a double in Rabat. He said, “I mean, this is the first time I’m doubling in a diamond league and the first time… I mean, winning both races will be a good night for me, but I don’t want to put myself under that pressure.” And surely, things did not happen that way. This wasn’t just any 100m race.
It featured heavy hitters, yes, but the expectation was that Tebogo would at least challenge for the podium. Instead, he faded from the frame entirely. For Simbine, the win adds another jewel to his glittering season. For Tebogo, it’s a jolting wake-up call. The Rabat Diamond League was meant to be his launchpad. Instead, it’s turned into a narrative he wasn’t ready for, one where he’s chasing redemption, not glory.
This is a developing story…
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