Akani Simbine fulfilled every expectation his country placed upon him, yet found himself confronting the same heartbreak once more.
Also read: SA long-jumper receives death threats ahead of Olympic performance
Simbine crafted a flawless season, navigated the preliminary rounds with care, avoided the pitfall of false starting in the semi-final as he did at last year’s World Championships, and performed admirably in an unprecedented Olympic 100m race where all eight finalists finished under 10 seconds. He ran the fastest race of his life, clocking a personal best and setting a new national record at 9.82 seconds.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Despite these incredible efforts, the elusive medal remained out of reach. He finished fourth, just 0.01 seconds behind Fred Kerley, who secured third place with 9.81 seconds. Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson both finished with 9.79 seconds, earning gold and silver, respectively. This narrow miss was even more painful than the 0.04-second margin that kept him off the podium in Tokyo three years ago.
Always a professional and a gentleman, Simbine approached the race with positivity and determination. At the Stade de France, he greeted the camera with a salute, a point and a wink. However, a five-minute delay before the start added to the tension. When the race finally began, Simbine had a good start, reaching the joint-second fastest speed with Thompson at 43.1km/h behind Lyles, and avoided tying up as he did in Rio.
Critics might fault his dip at the finish, but in such a competitive race, with the last finisher clocking 9.91 seconds, there was little more he could have done.
Simbine’s 9.82-second race ended in another chapter of disappointment in his storied career.
After the race, Simbine acknowledged the support of South Africans and the historical significance of his achievement, despite not winning a medal. He emphasised the importance of inspiring the next generation of South African sprinters.
Simbine remains optimistic, focusing on the upcoming relays. With a strong team including himself, Benji Richardson, Shaun Maswanganyi, and potentially Wayde van Niekerk, South Africa has a solid chance for a medal.
Meanwhile, Prudence Sekgodiso’s impressive performance secured her a spot in the 800m final, highlighting the potential for further success in South African athletics.
In elite sports, deserving doesn’t always align with results. Simbine, who has dedicated himself to excellence, continues to battle against the odds, striving for the elusive medal that has so far evaded him.
Find your perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images