The South African sprinting great, Akani Simbine, finally has his long-awaited Olympic medal after leading his team to silver on Friday in Paris.

South Africa, with Simbine, as the anchor won the men’s 4 x 100m relay silver at the Paris Olympic Games on Friday night in a time of 37.57 seconds to not only set a new national record, but a new African record as well. This was a remarkable feat as Bayanda Walaza is still 18-years-old and at school, Shaun Maswangani is a two-time Olympian at the age of 23 and Bradley Nkoana is only 19-years-old.

Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana, Bayanda Walaza and Shaun Maswangani . Photo: X

It was once again tight margins as Andre de Grasse led Canada to victory in 36.50 seconds and just 0.07 ahead of South Africa. Great Britain took the bronze medal in 37.61 seconds, while the star-studded USA relay team was disqualified.

Simbine, who finally has a medal after running in three men’s 100m sprint finals and narrowly missing out on each occasion. “Finally,” he said after the race.

“I got a major championship medal. I‘m just hungry for more. I’m happy for the guys, I’m happy for our country. I’m so happy that we came out here and ran, and we got a silver medal.

“My career has not been about the medals, it’s just been about a lot of consistency, and I have shown that I will always be there. I have shown that I will be an athlete that will step up to the plate and I will fight, my name will always be there.” 

“The medal is just the cherry on top, I have proven myself to the game. I have proven myself to my competitors and that for me is enough. I’m inspiring a new generation in Africa, that’s really huge and I don’t take it very lightly, and now I have a medal to add to that but that doesn’t describe me.

“I am a sprinter, I am an athlete, but this medal is just for everyone who has wished a medal upon me, my medal belongs to everyone.”

On Saturday evening South Africa will compete in the men’s 4 x 400m relay final in Paris.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek