South African sprint star Akani Simbine has issued a bold statement to his rivals, underlining exactly why he remains one of the most formidable athletes on the relay anchor leg.
Simbine produced a sensational finish at the World Athletics Relays Championships in Guangzhou, China last weekend, anchoring South Africa to their first-ever 4x100m relay gold medal. His electric burst on the final stretch saw him chase down competitors and edge them at the tape.
The South African team, featuring Bayanda Walaza on the first leg, Sinesipho Dambile on the second, and Bradley Nkoana on third, handed the baton to Simbine with everything to play for. True to form, the experienced sprinter didn’t disappoint, sealing a historic victory for the nation.
Simbine’s Message to Rivals
Simbine took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with a message that left no doubts about his confidence on the anchor leg.
“The thrill of the anchor leg! I will run you down,” the 29-year-old posted.
A Season of Milestones
Simbine’s form in 2025 has been nothing short of impressive. In March, he secured his first-ever World Indoor Championships medal, claiming bronze in the 60m final in Nanjing, China. His outdoor season has also caught attention, clocking his first sub-10 of the year with a blistering 9.90 seconds at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April.
He followed that up with strong performances in the Diamond League circuit, recording times of 9.99 and 9.98 seconds in Xiamen and Shanghai respectively.