Akani Simbine
South Africa’s Akani Simbine started this season having to prove his doubters wrong that he could still be a top challenger. In fact his major cynics were from back home, and in April when he retained his national title, he had to recreate a hush celebration mimicking the silence to his doubters.
It might not have been a very fast time to win the title, crossing the line in 10.31s, but he was taking it one race at a time, running a sequence of 10.46s and 10.42s to progress through the rounds. Speaking in Mauritius, he did reveal that he has had a plan with his management team on how to prosecute the 2022 season.
“We are on track with my coach. The plan was to make sure that we start our peak now (in June) going into the World Championships…also knowing that I am able to build into the season, build into a competition, build into a major championship, and then go fast with each round.” Simbine explained on his plans coming into the 2022 season.
Going by how early (mainly in April) South Africa holds its annual Athletics championships, their athletes have had a reputation of peaking early in the season, and then floundering at major championships. It could be why Simbine has been trying to buck the trend and save his best for much bigger championships.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, he came very close to being the first South African in more than 100 years to win a medal in the 100m since Reggie Walker won GOLD at the 1908 London Games. At Rio 2016, Simbine finished 5th in 9.94s, and moved a place five years later in Tokyo to finish 4th in 9.93s.
He now has to go a step better than the 4th place finishes he has had to contend with. Three years ago in Doha, he also finished 4th clocking 9.93s to lose out to Justin Gatlin (Silver in 9.89s) and Andre De Grasse who got the Bronze in 9.90s.
Although he is yet to run a legal sub 10s this season, but after that epic race against Omanyala in Mauritius, he has gotten better with every race. 10.09s in Oslo and 10.02s to win the men’s 100m at the Stockholm Diamond League, he could actually be saving something for the big occasion.
Last season, Simbine showed what he is capable of, breaking Olusoji Fasuba’s 9.84s AR and running a new one of 9.84s, before Omanyala closed out the season running a new AR of 9.77s. On his day, Simbine is a solid 9.8s runner.
If he peaks at the World Championships, you can’t discount him from the medal conversation. He might not be a favourite going by this season’s toplist, however Oregon could be where he breaks his duck and win a global medal. A lot might not see him coming, just as he has already been doubted this season.
