Akani Simbine had been riding high — the first man to ever run sub-10 in the 100m for 11 straight years, undefeated this season, and still looking sharp at 31. Heading into the Diamond League, he wasn’t just another name on the start list — he was a favorite to make the final. People were giving him flowers before the race even started. But then came July 19. That race changed the vibe. Simbine got beaten — and not just barely. Oblique Seville, Noah Lyles, and others left him behind. He clocked 10.95 seconds and finished fifth, way off his usual pace. It wasn’t the Akani we’ve been seeing all year. So, heading into the Tokyo World Championships… should fans be worried?
For the past year, Akani Simbine has been nothing but solid in the 100m. At the Paris Olympics, he came heartbreakingly close to a medal — 9.82 seconds and just off the podium. But he didn’t leave empty-handed. In the men’s 4x100m final, he helped South Africa secure silver, showing his big-race mettle on the relay stage. This year, he’s kept that same energy — consistent, fast, and always in the mix. That’s why the London Diamond League result felt like such a curveball. Not only was it a rare dip in form, but it was also the first time he lined up against Noah Lyles since that Olympic final. And yeah, Lyles came out on top again. So, is Akani just not built to beat the American star? That’s a fair question. But don’t count him out just yet. If he qualifies for the World Championships in Tokyo, he’ll likely meet Noah again — and that could be a totally different story. Even more, a U.S. Olympic legend has shared some encouraging words about Simbine, backing him to bounce back. So, maybe don’t write him off just because of one bad race.
On the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Rodney Green brought up the question a lot of fans have been asking: should we be worried about Akani Simbine’s form? Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champ, didn’t hesitate — nope, no need to panic. “I think going into the Diamond League go that was his [Akani] first Diamond League and first race really back,” Gatlin said. “So, I think that he’s just knocking a little bit of that rust off and getting himself ready and re-sharpening himself for the World Championships in the second half of the season.” He even reminded Rodney (and the rest of us) that this is the same Simbine who blazed a 9.86 at the adidas Atlanta City Games back in May. The man clearly still has speed — he just took a few weeks off and is now shaking off the cobwebs. So yeah, Gatlin’s not sweating it. And maybe we shouldn’t either.
250426 — XIAMEN, April 26, 2025 — Akani Simbine front of South Africa reacts after the men s 100m event at the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Xiamen Meeting in Xiamen, southeast China s Fujian Province, April 26, 2025. SPCHINA-XIAMEN-ATHLETICS-DIAMOND LEAGUE-MEN S 100M CN SongxYanhua PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
After running in the Rabat Diamond League, Akani Simbine hit pause on his competition schedule. He didn’t race again until the London Diamond League — but according to Justin Gatlin, that doesn’t mean he was chilling. Gatlin’s confident Simbine stayed locked in with training, so jumping back into full-speed competition shouldn’t be an issue at all.
And now, it looks like the 31-year-old South African is gearing up for the rest of the Diamond League 100m races — plus the big one: the Tokyo World Athletics Championships. There’s extra motivation too. Remember, two years ago at Worlds in Budapest, Simbine was DQ’d in the 100m semi-final. That kind of heartbreak sticks with you. A payback moment could be coming. But what about Noah Lyles? Is he solid heading into Tokyo to defend his crown? Well, the guy’s been winning, no doubt. But let’s not pretend the 100m is a walk in the park right now.
Noah Lyles will have to face a stiff challenge in the Japanese capital
Noah Lyles didn’t win the men’s 100m at the London Diamond League — that top spot went to his Jamaican rival, Oblique Seville. And let’s be real: a 10.00-second finish in today’s sprinting world doesn’t exactly turn heads. Especially when you’re the reigning Olympic and world champ. It was Lyles’ first 100m of the season, and on paper, it didn’t scream dominance.
But Lyles didn’t hang his head. In fact, he owned it. “I didn’t get it this time,” Lyles said post-race, “but the important thing was not to panic, to make sure that I hit all my positions regardless of him being out there and saying, ‘No matter what, I can still hold my head in a high-pressure situation.’” That confidence? Pure Noah. And here’s a fun fact: that 10.00 was actually his fastest ever season opener over 100m — and he’s still working his way back from injury. So no, it wasn’t the perfect race. But it also wasn’t a disaster. It was a warm-up, a statement, and a warning all at once.
Oblique Seville defeats Noah Lyles to win the Men s 100 metres Novuna Diamond League, Athletics, London Stadium, London, UK – 19 Jul 2025London London Stadium United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxCHNxDENxINDxITAxPORxESPxSWExTURxMEXxCOLxVENxPERxECUxBRAxARGxCHIxURUxPARxPANxONLY Copyright: xJavierxGarcia/Shutterstockx 15403611vOblique Seville defeats Noah Lyles to win the Men s 100 metres Novuna Diamond League, Athletics, London Stadium, London, UK – 19 Jul 2025London London Stadium United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROUxBULxUAExKSAxCHNxDENxINDxITAxPORxESPxSWExTURxMEXxCOLxVENxPERxECUxBRAxARGxCHIxURUxPARxPANxONLY Copyright: xJavierxGarcia/Shutterstockx 15403611v
Now here’s where it gets exciting: Tokyo. Simbine will be there — hungry, battle-tested, and looking for redemption after that brutal DQ in Budapest two years ago. Lyles will be there too — ready to defend his crown and prove he’s still the king of the short sprint. Both have something to prove. Both have everything to gain. Well, when these two finally meet in the 100m at the Tokyo World Championships, it won’t just be about time on the clock — it’ll be about pride, payback, and pressure.
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