Akani Simbine has disclosed that his World Indoor bronze medal was more than a confidence boost.
South African sprint king Akani Simbine has opened up about the significance of winning the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Akani Simbine ended his 12-year drought to finally achieve the historic feat competing in the 60m race at the global event.
The Paris Olympic Games 4x100m relay silver medallist has constantly been showing up on the global stage since 2010 and finally getting a medal was a dream come true for Akani Simbine, even the world was happy for the South African.
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Akani Simbine on the real meaning of winning his first global individual medal
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Akani Simbine pointed out that winning the medal was a confidence booster and an important step in his career, but there is more to that.
The 31-year-old revealed that his achievement has shown the world the true meaning of staying dedicated to one’s craft and never giving up.
Since making his global debut at the 2013 World Championships, Akani Simbine had to wait for more than 10 years to win his first global medal, and he has always been showing up without fail.
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Akani Simbine revealed that it is a source of motivation to all those youngsters looking to make the cut. He has always been missing the podium in all major finals but never gave up and finally, his dream came true.
“I think getting the medal was an important thing, it was important for my career and my confidence, but at the same time, I look at my career as a statement of what athletics is,” Akani Simbine revealed.
“Never giving up on your dreams and always pushing to the finish line, and for me, it’s always been about showing up. It’s always been about trying to be the best in that season.
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“I’ve always been coming fourth and falling short, but that has never taken away from my experience and what I want to do in the sport, and that is improving myself and becoming a better athlete.”
Akani Simbine on winning silver medal at Paris Olympic Games
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Akani Simbine revealed that winning the silver medal in the men’s 4x100m was also very important for the youngsters who were in the team, including Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana.
Simbine revealed that they believed in their abilities, and it is something that had been in the plan for years.
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“We believed that we had a team that could get a medal, but we never put it together. I was glad to be happy to put together a team that could bring a medal to South Africa. That, I think, is very important,” he revealed.
Akani Simbine on World Athletics’ 4x100m mixed relay
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The mixed 4x100m relay will make its global debut at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, and Akani Simbine is here for it.
Akani Simbine believes that the mixed relay is a very good idea and that it will bring a different taste to athletics.
“Now it’s about having the fastest man or woman, it’s about having the fastest team, and that is important. That’s the most exciting part of it, and I can’t wait to have a mixed team for South Africa, and I want to see how it works out,” Akani Simbine said.
Akani Simbine’s journey is a powerful testament to perseverance and belief in his dream. After more than a decade of near misses, his long-awaited global medal serves as an inspiration for the next generation of South African athletes.