South Africa’s Akani Simbine is hoping to receive a huge welcome like Letsile Tebogo when he goes back to his country after a long season that culminated at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
Simbine claimed a silver medal with the men’s 4x100m relay team at the Paris Olympic Games and the whole world was evidently happy for him. After ending his season in Brussels, the 30-year-old now returns home since May with the hope of receiving a grand reception.
He explained that winning the silver medal at the Olympics was a dream come true for him, however, he still has hopes to win an individual medal. Simbine now shifts focus to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
“It was actually great, but for me, it was like a job done…like I didn’t get the individual medal and it was something I was gunning for but I’m happy I came out with a silver at the Games. It has been a happy time and it was great even after the Olympic Games. At the moment I’m just looking forward to going home…I haven’t been home since May. I hope there will be celebrations, we’ll see when we get there,” Simbine said.
Commenting on the rise of sprinting in Africa with South African youngsters dominating the World Under-20 Championships, Simbine explained that the youngsters are beginning to believe in themselves.
He added that nothing much has changed in terms of training technologies but Africans are just showing the world that they are capable of getting the job done.
“Africa just wants to show the world that we can do it and I think it’s just been a show to other countries, other continents that we are believing in ourselves. Everything is still the same and I think it just goes back to athletes believing in themselves more, from the sprinting to the distance to jumping, to throwing. It’s all-around athletics that is growing in Africa. It’s a good time for Africa,” he added.
