Akani Simbine delivered a breathtaking anchor leg to lead South Africa to a historic gold medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25. Simbine’s electrifying final burst edged out the United States by just 0.05 seconds, securing victory in a world-leading time of 37.61 seconds.
The reigning African 100m champion took the baton for the final stretch with the race hanging in the balance. With trademark composure and blistering speed, Simbine surged past USA’s Brandon Hicklin in the last meters, clinching a first-ever gold for an African nation in this event.
Teaming up with Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, and Bradley Nkoana, Simbine and his South African teammates executed flawless baton exchanges, staying in contention against the formidable American squad through each leg. The result was a perfectly timed and courageous performance that captivated the global athletics community.
The United States, represented by Courtney Lindsey, Kenneth Bednarek, Kyree King, and Brandon Hicklin, finished a close second in 37.66 seconds, while Canada, anchored by Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, claimed bronze in 38.11 seconds.
The race wasn’t without its setbacks for other teams. Both Great Britain and Poland suffered baton exchange errors and failed to finish, a reminder of the unforgiving nature of relay racing at the elite level. Japan and Italy rounded out the top five, but the spotlight remained firmly on South Africa’s golden quartet.
The top 14 nations per relay at World Relays qualified for the World Championships set for 13–21 September 2025 in Tokyo.
