For over a decade, the battle for sprint supremacy in track and field was a two-nation affair: the U.S. vs. Jamaica. The rivalry peaked at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, where Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce led Jamaica to a dominant performance.
But times are changing.
A Shifting Sprint Order
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA appeared to reclaim some of its former dominance, topping the athletics medal table with 34 medals, including 14 golds. Standout performances from Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Sha’Carri Richardson lit up the Stade de France.
“I’m hoping that people in America are sensing that in track and field, this is the golden generation,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe remarked.
The once fierce USA-Jamaica rivalry saw cracks at the Paris Games. Injuries sidelined key Jamaican stars Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, ending their podium streak since 1988.
The U.S., despite individual brilliance, continued its puzzling 24-year Olympic gold drought in the men’s 4x100m relay. And into this void, new contenders are stepping forward.
Fans and Forums Spot the New Favorites
On the r/trackandfield subreddit, a simple yet revealing question caught attention: “Besides Jamaica and USA, which nation has the best sprinting athletes?”
The answers showcased a consensus, the sprinting world is no longer a duopoly. One name repeatedly surfaced.
“South Africa for the men—they’ve got the current world’s best sprinter (Simbine) and arguably the best youth sprinter (Walaza),” one fan noted.
Akani Simbine, the country’s sprinting ace, has been near-invincible in 2025. Undefeated in the 100m this season with a 6-0 record as of May, Simbine’s latest triumph came at the Rabat Diamond League, where he clocked a swift 9.95 seconds.
More importantly, at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, South Africa stunned the field, posting a world-leading 37.61 seconds in the men’s 4x100m final, edging out traditional sprinting powerhouses.
Complementing Simbine’s prowess is 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza, who shattered records this season by becoming the first South African U20 athlete to dip under 10 seconds in the 100m, recording 9.99 seconds at the Gauteng North Provincial Championships. Together, they represent a formidable present and future for South African sprinting.
The New Sprinting Contenders
Other nations are making waves too. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo captured the world’s attention at the Paris Olympics by winning the 200m gold in a blistering 19.46 seconds, an African record and Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold. His versatility, even challenging the U.S. in the 4x400m, has expanded Africa’s sprinting narrative beyond the usual suspects.
Canada, historically a strong relay nation, claimed bronze in the men’s 4x100m final at the World Relays, with veteran André De Grasse delivering a strong anchor. Japan also continues to impress, maximizing precision and teamwork in relays. At the Paris Games, they led into the final straight before finishing fifth, underlining their potential.
The USA and Jamaica remain sprinting juggernauts, but the global playing field is evening out. The baton is being contested by emerging nations hungry for glory and backed by rising stars. South Africa is now seen by many as the sport’s next sprinting superpower.
The debate is no longer whether the USA or Jamaica rules the sprints. It’s about who’s coming for them next.
