‘You fought hard’: Simbine earns respect of SA in closest Olympic men’s 100m final

Akani Simbine has once again missed out on a major championship medal, but he has earned the respect of South Africans everywhere for his fighting spirit and determination.

The 27-year-old finished seventh in the men’s 100m final at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, but his time of 9.93 seconds was just 0.04 seconds off the bronze medal.

It was the closest men’s 100m final in Olympic history, with the top three finishers all crossing the line within 0.01 seconds of each other.

Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs took the gold medal in a time of 9.80 seconds, ahead of American Fred Kerley (9.84) and Canadian Andre De Grasse (9.89).

Simbine was the only African runner to reach the final, and he was the first South African to do so since 2004.

His performance was all the more impressive given that he had been struggling with a hamstring injury in the lead-up to the Games.

After the race, Simbine said he was “disappointed” not to have won a medal, but he was proud of his performance.

“I gave it my all,” he said. “I fought hard. I’m just disappointed that I didn’t get a medal, but I’m proud of my performance.”

Simbine’s performance was praised by South Africans on social media, with many people saying that he had made them proud.

“You fought hard, Akani,” one person tweeted. “You represented South Africa with pride.”

“You are an inspiration to us all,” another person tweeted. “Thank you for showing us what is possible.”

Simbine’s performance was also praised by his coach, Werner Prinsloo.

“I’m very proud of Akani,” Prinsloo said. “He ran a great race. He was in contention for a medal right up until the end.”

“He’s a great athlete and a great ambassador for South Africa,” Prinsloo added. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he can achieve in the future.”

Akani Simbine: A rising star

Akani Simbine is one of the most promising young sprinters in the world.

He won the gold medal in the 100m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and he finished fourth in the 100m at the 2019 World Championships.

Simbine is also the South African record holder in the 100m, with a time of 9.89 seconds.

He is expected to be a contender for a medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Conclusion

Akani Simbine’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics was a reminder of his talent and determination.

He may not have won a medal, but he earned the respect of South Africans everywhere.

He is a rising star in the sprinting world, and he is one to watch in the years to come.