“There’s still more in the tank,” said Akani Simbine. “And I’m not done yet.” That message, simple and firm, followed his 9.90-second run in Botswana, his 11th consecutive season under the 10-second barrier. It was a mark that passed even Usain Bolt for consistency. And yet, as the Diamond League heads to London, the South African sprinter enters the men’s 100 meters not as the spotlight’s focus. Rather, as the man who quietly undermines expectations. But will the wrath of the South African pose a threat to the Olympic champs, Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo as well?
Much of the conversation has circled around the return of Noah Lyles vs. Letsile Tebogo. The two last met in a true sprint showdown nearly a year ago. Since then, Lyles has sharpened his early-phase execution, while Tebogo, the 21-year-old from Botswana, has grown more controlled and explosive in his drive phase. Both men are expected to rekindle their rivalry in London with championship implications looming. Yet, one reality tempers that excitement. Simbine has not lost a single 100-meter race in 2025. Yes, you read that right!
That includes victories over both established names and emerging talents. In Xiamen and Kequio, Simbine separated from the field cleanly, displaying a composed top-end speed that has become his signature. He also took bronze in the 60 meters at the World Indoor Championships, reinforcing that his start is no longer the weak point it once was. His recent form, paired with the confidence of a relay silver in Paris, gives the 31-year-old more than just statistical momentum. It provides him standing in the psychological landscape of the event.
“Having that tag as the nearly man, it’s noise at the end of the day,” Simbine told BBC Sport. “I don’t see it like that. I see it as an action that’s never given up on trying to be the best.” While Lyles carries the status of Olympic champion and Tebogo the intrigue of youth and upside, it is Simbine who holds the current edge in performance. His timing, both in terms of season and execution, is more aligned than ever with the demands of a major final.
Will Akani Simbine keep his 100m win streak alive at the London Diamond League? #LondonDL pic.twitter.com/nOcjIZbWZe
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) July 15, 2025
The London field also included Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, whose late-phase acceleration has been among the most improved this season. “I’m feeling good about where I am right now,” Thompson said recently. “The work is showing, and I’m learning every race.” However, the track world would still be missing out on the epic rivalry of the Olympic gold and silver medalists, as a recent update reveals otherwise.
Kishane Thompson’s quiet withdrawal leaves Lyles vs Thompson rivalry on pause
In a sport where silence often signals strategy, Kishane Thompson’s absence from the upcoming London Diamond League has landed with the weight of a statement. It is not merely that the Jamaican is missing from the 100-meter roster. It is that the only man who threatened Noah Lyles in Paris, by the slimmest measurable margin, is no longer present when the stage seemed set for their renewal. The omission is neither minor nor easily dismissed. It has, instead, cast a long shadow over what was anticipated to be a compelling continuation of an unfolding rivalry.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s 100m Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 04, 2024. Noah Lyles of United States and Kishane Thompson of Jamaica look to the screen for the final score decision. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Thompson’s performance at the Jamaican trials, where he ran 9.75 seconds to claim his place among the fastest men ever recorded, was not the action of a passive contender. Nor were his words, offered with measured intent in Eugene, lacking in clarity: “When he’s ready to step back on the track and we meet, it’s going to be fireworks for sure.” Those remarks were not idle bravado. They were pointed, timely, and delivered with the assurance of an athlete not seeking escape from confrontation. Yet, as Noah Lyles prepares to anchor a field dense with talent in London, Thompson’s absence removes the singular presence that could have given this race its sharpest edge.
No official explanation has emerged. Whether it is recovery, recalibration, or something less visible, the result remains the same: the contest that felt inevitable now appears postponed indefinitely. For Lyles, the path to Tokyo continues uninterrupted. For the audience, the most compelling question of the summer has been left unanswered, without reason, and without its most vital participant. However, now, it is Simbine, armed with years of global experience and recent breakthrough results, who may very well tilt the balance in a race where two stars are expected to lead.
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