After a series of fourth and fifth places in major events, Akani Simbine would’ve hoped that the Paris Olympics would see his medal jinx finally end.
But after running the fastest time of his life to set a new South African record of 9.82 seconds in the 100m final last Sunday and still not reaching the podium, Simbine would’ve thought that it was just not meant to be.
He was agonisingly short of the bronze once more in the final, just 0.01 behind the third-placed American Fred Kerley, who clocked 9.81 behind US champion Noah Lyles’ 9.79 – whose time actually had to be measured even further at 9.784 in order to separate him from Jamaican silver medallist Kishane Thompson, who registered 9.789, which was also rounded down to 9.79.
It was the closest ever 100m final, but Simbine still couldn’t be part of the medal ceremony.
His last chance at the Stade de France was the 4x100m relay, but that opportunity was cast in doubt when Benjamin Richardson – who ran a superb personal best of 9.86 in July – had to be withdrawn with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 200m heats.
SA relays coach Paul Gorries had to re-jig things, and that meant 18-year-old Pretoria matric learner Bayanda Walaza went in as a replacement, while there was another teenager in the mix in 19-year-old university student Bradley Nkoana.
Richardson’s absence resulted in a change of legs for Shaun Maswanganyi, who would normally have started the relay, but had to move to the second leg, with Walaza first out of the blocks, Nkoana third and Simbine finishing off.
They did well enough to qualify as the second-fastest team from the heat in 37.94 seconds, behind the US in 37.47.
It all came down to Friday night’s final, and after Walaza, Maswanganyi and Nkoana ran their legs, South Africa were fifth.
Enter Simbine, who produced the third-fastest ever final leg of a 4x100m relay in 8.78 seconds as he stormed down the home straight to stop the clock in 37.57 – a new African record and just 0.07 seconds behind gold medallists Canada (37.50), with Great Britain third in 37.61.
Simbine – and South Africa – had finally done it, securing SA’s fifth medal in Paris to add to swimmer Tatjana Smith’s gold and silver, the bronze by the Blitzboks rugby team and cross-country cyclist Alan Hatherly’s bronze.
“We ran, we got a silver medal, and we got the African record to top that up,” the smiling 30-year-old said afterwards, before receiving his medal at the ceremony.
That final leg from Akani Simbine ⚡️💨
He passes four other teams to secure the silver medal for South Africa in the Men's 4x100m relay 🇿🇦
The celebrations at the end show you just what it means to the boys 💚#Paris2024 #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/mwndnmTYzd
“For me, it’s just finally I got a major championship medal, and I’m just hungry for more.
“My career has not been about the medals. It’s just been about a lot of consistency. I have shown that I will always be there. I have shown that I will be an athlete who will step up to the plate – and I’ll fight.
“My name will always be there, and 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 am inspiring a new generation in Africa – that’s really huge. I don’t take that very lightly, and that’s really great.
“Now I just have a medal to add to that, but that doesn’t describe me. I’m a sprinter, I’m an athlete. But this medal is just for everyone that has wished a medal upon me. My medal belongs to everyone.”
The 23-year-old Maswanganyi, who reached the semi-finals in the individual 100m and 200m events, was elated that Simbine had earned an Olympic medal.
“It’s an exhilarating feeling, just coming out here with the guys. I’m so proud of these guys. We just came out today and we knew we could show up. We put out 37.9 yesterday in the prelims, with a few mistakes,” he said.
🇿🇦 Team South Africa step onto the podium to receive their silver medals in the Men's 4x100m relay 🥈👏#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Nfccu5lNDc
“We knew we were going to go faster. We were in it for the gold, but we’ll settle for the silver right now.
“We know that there’s more to come – there’s still another Olympics. There are still more young guys coming through the ranks.
“For guys like AK (Simbine), I know it’s a special moment for him. It’s a special moment for these two youngsters …
“He’s (Walaza) still in high school – he’s still got math next week!
“He’s (Nkoana) still in university, we (Maswanganyi and Simbine) are the ‘vets’! So, we just wanted to come out here and put on a show for Africa.
Four gents who have cemented themselves in South African athletics history 🥈📚
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 10, 2024
Listen to what they have to say here 👇#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/6i1CY1eFoj
“We saw what Letsile (Tebogo) did yesterday (winning the 200m title), and we couldn’t let him have all the shine! But we are proud of our guys, and just to please the green-and-gold every day is special to us.”
An excited Walaza added: “For me, it’s kind of scary, I don’t want to lie. I know when I go back to school, everyone will be like ‘Hey!’.
“So, I just did it, and I am truly happy to just be part of this team. I truly appreciate being here, and I am truly thankful for what’s going on, what’s happening. That’s all I can say.”
The more reserved Nkoana concluded: “First of all, I want to thank God for bringing me here, and I want to thank my coach for believing in me and being hard with me, because that’s the reason why I’m here.
“I thank my family back home and everyone watching – my grandma, my aunts …
“It’s a special moment for me, especially at the beginning of my career. I want to take this opportunity to say to everyone that anything is possible, no matter how young or old you are – you just have to believe.”