Akani Simbine Reveals Why He is Not Happy Despite Flooring Kishane Thompson, Lestile Tebogo and Co in Shanghai

Akani Simbine. Photo: Imago

Akani Simbine Reveals Why He is Not Happy Despite Flooring Kishane Thompson, Lestile Tebogo and Co in Shanghai

Joel Omotto 22:53 - 03.05.2025

South African sprinter Akani Simbine beat a strong cast that included Kishane Thompson, Letsile Tebogo and Christian Coleman at Shanghai Diamond League but was still not satisfied.

Akani Simbine may have secured a third straight sub-10 of the season and beaten a class field that includes Olympics and World Championships medalists but he is still not impressed.

Simbine floored Olympics silver medalist Kishane Thompson, Letsile Tebogo, Christian Coleman and Ferdinand Omanyala to claim his second straight Diamond League win, this time in Shanghai on Saturday.

The South African was run close by Thompson, who was running his first race of the season, but edged it out, winning in 9.98 seconds, as the Jamaican clocked 9.99 seconds for second place, ahead of Tebogo (10.03).

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It was the third straight sub-10 performance of the season for Simbine, who had clocked 9.90 at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in Gaborone and 9.99 at Xiamen Diamond League, both last month, but he was not satisfied with his performance in the Chinese city.

Why is Akani Simbine not happy despite victory in Shanghai?

Akani Simbine beat Kishane Thompson by one microsecond in the Shanghai Diamond League 100m dash Photo || SportsMax

“Another win. I'm not happy with the race but taking the win is good, Simbine said after the race.

“I'm not happy with the start, it is just frustrating that I did not get it right today but I was at least able to make up for that mistake and get the win.”

The 31-year-old, however, hopes to make amends in his subsequent races in what will be a busy month.

“I have World Relays and then Atlanta the following week and then on to the Diamond League in Morocco. It is a busy May but I'm looking forward to working on what I need to work on to get better,” he added.

Simbine has been in great form and he is the only athlete to have recorded multiple sub-10 performances this year which gives him confidence of perhaps winning a medal at the World Relays Championships in Guangzhou, China next week after clinching bronze at the World Indoor Games in March.