‘You fought hard’: Simbine earns respect of SA in closest Olympic men’s 100m final
South Africa’s Akani Simbine ran the race of his life to finish a creditable sixth in the Olympic men’s 100m final on Sunday in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old clocked a personal best of 9.93 seconds, just 0.06 seconds behind the winner, Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs.
It was the closest men’s 100m final in Olympic history, with the top six runners separated by just 0.14 seconds.
After the race, Simbine was congratulated by his fellow competitors, including Jacobs, who said: “You fought hard.”
Simbine’s performance was a source of pride for South Africans, who took to social media to praise his efforts.
“Akani Simbine, you did us proud!” tweeted President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“What a performance by Akani Simbine!” tweeted former Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk.
“You fought hard, and you represented South Africa with pride.”
Simbine’s sixth-place finish is his best ever result at a major international competition.
He finished eighth at the 2016 Olympics and seventh at the 2019 World Championships.
Simbine’s performance in Tokyo is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He has been training tirelessly for years, and his efforts have finally paid off.
Simbine is an inspiration to all South Africans.
He shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Well done, Akani!
