Meet SA’s Akani Simbine: The fourth-fastest man in the world
Five things to know about South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who secured fourth place in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine took fourth place in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, August 4.
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Here are FIVE things to know about the fourth-fastest man in the world.
Simbine narrowly missed out on the bronze medal third spot in the final of the men’s 100m in Paris on Sunday.
He finished in 9.82 which was a new South African record.
Fred Kerley from the United States finished in third place, clocking 9.81 – that’s how close Simbine was to the podium.
As previously reported by The South African, American Noah Lyles took the gold medal in a personal best of 9.79 ahead of Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (9.79).
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT AKANI SIMBINE
SIMBINE BROKE A SOUTH AFRICAN RECORD
Completing the 100m final at 9.82 set a new South African record.
THIRD OLYMPIC FINAL
This was Akani Simbine’s third consecutive Olympic men’s 100m final.
‘MOST CONSISTENT SPRINTER IN THE WORLD’
He has been dubbed the most consistent sprinter in the world since the Rio Games in 2016, where he finished fifth in 9.94. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, he finished in fourth place with 9.94. This year in Paris he finished fourth again, this time in 9.82.
NOT DONE WITH SPRINTING YET
Simbine said that he was happy to have set a South African record and he is not yet done with the sport. He explained that he started sprinting late in life and he still wants to get more out of it.
“I’m happy to have got a national record, I’m happy to have been in the final. I’m happy to be the fourth fastest man in the world and I’m happy to have raced in three Olympics finals. When I saw my time it consoled me. No way am I leaving the sport now. I started it very late in my life and I still want to get more out of the sport,” he said according to Team SA.
SIMBINE IS 30 YEARS OLD
The South African star is 30-years-old and says that he is the fastest he has ever been in his life.
“I’m now 30 and running the fastest I ever have done in my life. Between Fred and me there was 0.01 seconds. What more can I ask from myself to run faster than ever before? I was in the race right until the end. My coach and I have been working hard to make myself faster, to be in the fight for medals,” Akani Simbine said according to Team SA.