After years of waiting, South Africa’s Akani Simbine finally secured a breakthrough medal on the global stage.
Since making his debut on the global stage at the 2013 World Championships in Russia, South Africa’s Akani Simbine had not won an individual medal but that has since changed.
Akani Simbine has been off to a great start to his 2025 season, winning a bronze medal in the men’s 60m final at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Simbine was just making his debut at the event and finally, one of his greatest prayers has been answered as he has managed to claim a medal. In the past years, Akani Simbine has finished in the top five over 100m at six global championships.
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The teen sensation hopes to catch the eye of coach Benni McCarthy ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifier against The Gambia on Thursday night.
Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu, a new father, claimed a dominant win in the race, clocking a personal best time of 6.49 seconds. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy came in second in 6.50 seconds as Simbine rounded up the podium in 6.54 seconds.
Akani Simbine started his campaign dominantly, winning the heats in a time of 6.57 seconds before heading to the semifinal where he finished second in 6.53 seconds. The bronze medal win in the final is a sign of a great season ahead.
He certainly has eyes on the World Championships scheduled for Tokyo, Japan in September and has intentions to win a medal too, now that his confidence is boosted.
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Meanwhile, at the Paris Olympic Games, he was sure about winning a medal but once again, finished fourth behind Fred Kerley who completed the podium. Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson finished first and second respectively after clocking 9.79 seconds.
In a past interview on the Ozow on Air podcast, Akani Simbine revealed how many track and field fans have watched his growth and if he ever won a medal, it would be for everyone who stood by his side even when he failed to live up to the billing.
“The whole track world wants me to get a medal, you know, the track world knows how much I’ve been there for track and what I’ve done for track,” Akani Simbine said.
“Since 2016 I have always been missing out and everyone was saying how they wanted me to get a medal and they wished it would happen.”
Now, he shifts focus to the outdoor season, starting with the Diamond League Meetings as he builds up for the ultimate event of the season, the global championship in Tokyo.
