SURELY IT IS now or never for Akani Simbine! It’s got to be podium or bust for South Africa’s sprint king this time around, right?
An also-ran in the previous two Olympic Games – where he finished fifth at Rio 2016 and fourth at Tokyo 2020, both in the 100m – the 30-year-old owes South Africa a medal in the blue-riband event of the ultimate sporting spectacle. And expectations are that the upward trajectory he’s had at the Games should result in third time being the charm for the man once thought of as a potential heir-apparent to the great Usain Bolt’s crown. The great Jamaican had himself talked up Simbine’s chances of taking over from him as the world’s fastest man.
That has not happened though and Simbine’s quest for an Olympic medal continues, starting today in the heats.
It cannot be denied that he has the talent, as proven by his many fantastic runs that have brought him numerous successes in the Diamond League, multiple South African titles and the record, as well as him having been the continent’s fastest man at one stage.
Why then, has it not brought him a podium finish on the global stage?
Simbine, a former Commonwealth Games champion, has yet to win an individual medal at the World Championships and the Olympics.
If he is to do it in Paris, he will have to overcome what seems to be a lack of BMT – Big Match Temperament.
Time and time again, Simbine has flattered to deceive – raising the country’s hopes with brilliant performances, only to come short when it mattered most. It all spoke to a lack of mental fortitude, a self belief that is so important at the highest level of the sport.
While there was a suggestion he peaked too early – Simbine often producing world leads early on in the season – the fact that he reached the major finals would seems to dispel such thoughts. And to his credit, a fifth and fourth place finish at the Olympics are not efforts to be sneezed at.
But the belief is he’s much more talented than that. He must make the podium – and he wants to, he has coveted that for years now.
To realise his long-held goal, he will have to overcome some serious classy opposition.
This, however, will be easier said than done, especially in the 100m event teeming with superstars such as Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo, Kishane Thompson and Ferdinand Omanyala.
All these men are capable of victory, but there are just three medals on offer. And Simbine wants to have one of them, preferably the gold, dangling from his neck. It will take more than just talent for Simbine to beat all those superstars. He will have to be mentally at his best.
He begins that quest this morning in the heats and should have little problem progressing all the way to the final, where he will strive to finally come good at the third timely asking. He has to, for at 30 years of age it would appear this is his final chance at an Olympic medal.
Simbine is not the only athlete to represent South Africa in Paris in the 100m, with Benjamin Richardson and Shaun Maswanganyi also in the mix.
Unlike Simbine, the duo are not considered medal hopefuls but they will both be keen to impress.
Maswanganyi, in particular, should be looking to show that he has learnt from the Tokyo experience and has grown as an athlete.
The youngster, who is trained by the great Carl Lewis, has had an impressive season in the US. Will that be replicated in Paris?