Sports

Akani Simbine and the Rise of South Africa’s Sprinting Dream Team

Published

3 months ago

June 2, 2025

Chiraag

Akani Simbine crossing the finish line, 100m sprint, South African athletics, Diamond League winner, elite sprinter, consistent sub-10 runner, global track star. Bayanda Walaza in full flight, 19-year-old sprinter, record-breaking 9.94 seconds, fastest South African U20, future Olympic hopeful. Gift Leotlela powering through the 100m, national champion, comeback from injury, explosive sprint finish. Zakithi Nene leading the 400m pack, personal best 44.22 seconds, strong form, Rabat Diamond League, one-lap specialist. Udeme Okon and Leendert Koekemoer, young relay stars, 4x400m World Relays gold, rising South African talent, national record holders. Benjamin Richardson and Shaun Maswanganyi, powerful strides, next-generation sprinters, deep sprinting talent pool, Olympic potential, Joburg ETC

Fast, fearless and rewriting the record books

It feels like a sprinter is born every minute in South Africa these days. Blink and you might miss the next teenager running sub-10 or breaking the 45-second barrier. And at the head of this incredible charge is none other than Akani Simbine – the sprinting stalwart who has quietly evolved into the face of a golden era for South African athletics.

Simbine isn’t just winning races – he’s setting the standard. His unbeaten run in all five of his 100m outings this year, including three Diamond League wins, shows just how far ahead he is of the curve. His latest triumph? A cool 9.95-second win in Rabat against global giants like Fred Kerley and Ferdinand Omanyala. And let’s not forget his lightning-fast 9.90 in Botswana that still leads the world this season.

But what makes this story even more exhilarating is that Simbine’s not alone anymore.

A new wave is crashing in

For years, Simbine carried the national flag in the 100m alone. Now, he’s got company – and it’s world-class.

Enter Bayanda Walaza, a 19-year-old with nerves of steel and feet like rockets. This past weekend, Walaza clocked a stunning 9.94 seconds in Croatia. That time doesn’t just put him on the radar – it plants him firmly in the record books as the fastest-ever South African under 20. Only Simbine and a handful of elite names have ever run faster.

And it’s not just Walaza heating up the track. Sprinters like Benjamin Richardson (21) and Shaun Maswanganyi (24) are already clocking sub-10 times – and they’re still developing. Then there’s Gift Leotlela, who overcame injuries to win the national title this year in 9.99 seconds, proving he’s back in serious form.

In fact, South Africa’s 100m lineup is so stacked right now that rising stars like Bradley Nkoana – already an Olympic silver medallist in the 4x100m – couldn’t even crack the final at nationals. That’s how deep the talent pool runs.

Akani Simbine in peak form, South African sprint leader, dominating global track meets, sub-10 second streak, 100m sprint champion. Teenage sensation Bayanda Walaza, clocking 9.94 seconds, breaking national U20 records, rising star in sprinting. Gift Leotlela returning to top shape, winning national 100m title, explosive pace, South African sprinter. Zakithi Nene charging ahead in the 400m, new personal best, leading national rankings, Diamond League contender. Lythe Pillay and Gardeo Isaacs, experienced 400m athletes, part of a powerful relay squad, consistent performances. Udeme Okon and Leendert Koekemoer, youthful energy, breaking the 45-second barrier, shining at World Relays, future champions, Joburg ETC

Image 1: Mountain Lake PBS

The 400m squad: speed with stamina

It’s not just the short dash where South Africa is making noise. The 400m event is bursting with raw talent and experience.

Leading the charge is Zakithi Nene. After a rocky Olympic campaign in Paris, Nene has found another gear this year. He smashed his personal best with a 44.22-second run at nationals, and followed it up with a near-win at the Rabat Diamond League. He’s not just bouncing back – he’s on a mission.

Right behind him is Lythe Pillay (22), a former junior world champ who already has two national titles to his name and a best time of 44.31. While his consistency is still a work in progress, his ceiling is sky-high.

Then come the young guns: Udeme Okon (19), who broke 45 seconds this year and dominated the Under-20 World Championships in Peru, and Leendert Koekemoer (18), a schoolboy sensation who clocked 45.03 at the national champs. These two not only run with maturity beyond their years – they’ve already helped win a gold and set a national record in the 4x400m at the World Relays in China.

They’re joined by reliable relay legs like Gardeo Isaacs and Antonie Nortje, making South Africa’s 400m squad not just deep, but dangerously versatile.

Ready for the world stage

There’s a feeling in the air – you can’t quite put your finger on it, but it’s there. A blend of confidence, expectation, and pure excitement. For the first time in history, South Africa is heading into a World Championship not just hoping to compete, but expecting to contend.

Akani Simbine will be a medal favourite in Tokyo this September, and rightly so. But the real prize might come in the relays, where this new breed of sprinters, still young but hungry, has already proven it can stand on the top step of the podium.

And perhaps that’s the best part of this whole story. It’s not just about one man anymore. It’s about a movement. A generation. A team that’s rewriting what South African sprinting means to the world.

Catch them while they’re flying

If you’ve ever wanted to see greatness in the making, now’s your chance. The country’s fastest-ever group of sprinters is in peak form – and they’re just getting started.

Don’t wait for the highlights. Tune in, show up, cheer loudly, and celebrate what is fast becoming one of South Africa’s proudest sporting moments. The sprinting revolution is here – and it’s moving at lightning speed.