In the ever-electrifying world of sprinting, where fractions of a second define legacy, Akani Simbine is writing a story all his own—one powerful anchor leg at a time. On May 13, the South African sprint king posted a short but loaded message on X (formerly Twitter): “The thrill of the anchor leg! I will run you down ”—a declaration as bold as the final burst of speed he unleashed during the men’s 4x100m final at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou. Attached was a clip: Simbine, the last man in green, chasing down and overtaking Team USA with icy calm and blistering pace. Was it a warning? A flex? Or perhaps a little of both.
Because last week, on one of the world’s biggest relay stages, Akani Simbine led Team South Africa past the mighty USA—a squad that boasted Olympic medalists like Kenny Bednarek, who had clocked the fastest splits in both the semifinals and finals. But medals and reputations didn’t shake the South Africans. And in truth, the race wasn’t even close when it came to that last exchange. The difference? Akani. And he knew it. But Akani Simbine is more than just an anchor leg assassin.
In a recent interview with SuperSport, the 31-year-old sprinter opened a window into the mindset of a man who isn’t just surviving in the high-stakes sprint game—he’s dominating it. “I’m Akani, you know, and I believe in my talent and I believe in my speed and I believe that I can win,” he said. “I believe that I’m the best out of the lower lineup.” Flex? Maybe. Confidence? Definitely. Backed by results? Absolutely.
So far in 2025, Akani Simbine has run—and won—every 100m race he’s entered. He holds the world lead in the 100m (9.90 seconds) and now, just a day after his declaration online, he’s gearing up for the Adidas Atlanta City Games in Piedmont Park. His mission? Stay undefeated. But as always, Simbine doesn’t just show up to compete. He shows up prepared. And that discipline, he revealed, is what made the difference not just in Guangzhou but in the Paris Olympics last year.
That’s when Team South Africa stunned the world by earning a medal in the men’s 4x100m relay—while Team USA, plagued by yet another baton mishap, didn’t even make the final. Behind that, South African success was strategy, chemistry, and a quiet determination to evolve. “A good team, like a good support structure, a very good support structure, like my coach is very awesome, my official is amazing, my manager, you know, and just having, like a team that understands me,” the 31-year-old said to the reporters before the Adidas meet.
“Being able to put together what I feel like I want to do and listening to me, and it’s not just an academy, it’s an academy training, you know, it’s our training and what we’re trying to do and our business.” That flexibility is something South Africa has embraced—a deep pool of capable sprinters who understand their role and a captain like Akani who takes ownership when it counts.
“If you give me the baton in a fair fighting chance,” he said, “I’ll do my best to make sure we come home with a medal. Last year was proof of that. I was in shape, got the baton in a spot where I could execute—and I did.” And it’s not just raw speed, but it’s also about knowing when to strike. Explaining that part, Simbine said, “One thing I know well. I know my top anglers really well. I know when I get up into my running, I’m pretty dangerous. It’s been proven over the years, and so I trust that.”
So what’s next for Simbine in Atlanta? Victory, again, is the obvious target. But for Akani, every race is more than just a finish line—it’s a statement. A chance to reinforce what the world is slowly coming to realize. And it is about the mindset.
Akani Simbine shows the leadership
“NO DNA JUST RSA [South African flag emoji] ” With just five words and two emojis, Akani Simbine captured not only the pride of a nation but the heart of a movement. The message—bold, defiant, and drenched in South African spirit—was more than a victory lap. It was a salute to the unity, power, and rising dominance of Team South Africa at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou.
And this wasn’t just about the men’s 4x100m squad that stormed past the USA under his anchor charge—it was about everyone. The post honored the women’s teams too, shining a light on a collective that’s proving to be unstoppable on the global stage. Because that’s who Akani Simbine is: A leader. A finisher. A flag bearer. But don’t mistake his unity for modesty—Simbine is also running at a level few can touch.
Just days before his Guangzhou glory, he tore up the track at the Xiamen Diamond League, facing a lineup stacked with sprinting royalty. Olympic silver medalist Letsile Tebogo, former world champion Christian Coleman, and African powerhouse Ferdinand Omanyala—all left chasing the blur in green and gold. And Simbine? Cool, collected, and clinical.
He crossed the line first, once again proving that he doesn’t need genetics or hype to dominate. No “DNA advantage.” It was just RSA firepower. This isn’t luck. This isn’t a one-season wonder. And this is a veteran sprinting at his peak, doing it for himself and his country—with no excuses, no shortcuts, and no fear. Akani Simbine is showing the world that South Africa isn’t just here to compete. They’re here to conquer. And with him leading the charge, one powerful anchor leg at a time, that mission feels inevitable.
The post “I Am Pretty Dangerous”: Akani Simbine Makes Feelings Clear About Performance After Leaving USA in the Dust appeared first on EssentiallySports.