Olympic champion Justin Gatlin has pinpointed a critical flaw in Simbine’s training approach that may explain his recurring setbacks.
South African sprinter Akani Simbine has long been one of the fastest men in the world, yet his career has been marked by agonizing near-misses in major championships.
Despite reaching finals and setting a 9.82s national record, Simbine frequently misses the podium, finishing fourth or fifth globally.
Simbine’s recent bronze medal in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships was a breakthrough, proving he has the talent to compete with the best. However, his outdoor record tells a different story.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 World Championships, he finished fifth in the 100m. In 2019 at Doha, 2021 Tokyo, and 2024 Paris, he was heartbreakingly close fourth each time.
Even his silver medal in the 4x100m relay in Paris couldn’t mask the frustration of missing out on an individual Olympic medal yet again.
Gatlin explained that Simbine’s early-season peak might be costing him when it matters most.
“For me, I think part of the reason is his preparation timeline,” Gatlin said this on his Ready Set Go podcast alongside co-host Rodney Greene.
“Because of where he is in the world, he starts preparing much earlier than most sprinters. By December, he’s already in outdoor sprint shape, not just gearing up for 60m races, but actually racing outdoors in December and January.”
This early peak, Gatlin argues, forces Simbine to sustain top speed for an unusually long period.
While others peak in July or August, Simbine reaches top form early, potentially affecting his performance at major championships.
“Now, imagine carrying that load for months,” Gatlin added.
“He has to sustain that speed from December through February, March, April, and May. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is just getting into peak outdoor shape around May or June. By the time major championships come around in August, he’s already been at that level for so long. That’s a long time to maintain peak sprinting form.”
Justin Gatlin has suggested that Simbine reassess his training approach if he hopes to secure a breakthrough in outdoor competitions
“As a veteran athlete, sometimes you have to consider making adjustments. Maybe he’s been doing it this way for years, but why not switch it up?” he suggested.
“What if he pushes his training back by a month or a month and a half to align more with the rest of the world? If he did that, assuming he hasn’t already, I don’t see how he wouldn’t consistently make the podium.”
This tactical tweak could be the difference between another fourth-place finish and a long-awaited medal. Simbine has chances to redefine his legacy at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
