Akani Simbine Snubbed as American Star Takes Major U-Turn Over South African Track and Field Star

Akani Simbine has been absolutely on fire, burning up the track and solidifying his place as a true 100-meter king! The South African sprinter’s 2025 season has been nothing short of electrifying. Just last week, he blazed to a stunning 9.95-second victory at the Rabat Diamond League, leaving guys like Ferdinand Omanyala and Fred Kerley in his dust. This was just a continuation of his previous two victories at the Keqiao and Xiamen DLs, where he bested the likes of Kishane and his African rival, Letsile Tebogo. But with so much success, it’s bound to get some major shoutouts. But shoutouts aren’t the only thing Akani got.

He’s also got some major throwaway statements. And it is from none other than one of his loudest praisers, Nico Williams. Yes, the same Williams even declared at one point, “He’s been on fire this year.”  Well, get ready for a shocker, because Noah Williams has done a complete, jaw-dropping 180, sending ripples through the entire track world! In a recent YouTube video, he flat-out stated, “No disrespect to Akani, but I don’t see him walking away with a gold medal. I can see him getting a bronze or maybe a silver at best.”

He didn’t stop there, doubling down by asserting, “I just don’t think he’s as good as a Noah Lyles or a Kenny Bednarek. I don’t think he’s better than those guys over 100.” This isn’t just a slight dig; it’s a monumental shift from his earlier, glowing praise. Williams used to be one of Simbine’s loudest cheerleaders, marveling at his almost robotic ability to string together sub-10-second races with machine-like precision.

Yet, despite acknowledging Simbine’s consistency, saying, “He’s super consistent; he’s running well,” Williams now questions if that’s truly enough to take down the sport’s biggest names. His blunt assessment has left fans scratching their heads: What on earth made him change his mind so drastically? Is there some inside information we’re missing?

Williams’s sudden doubts seem to hinge on the sheer dominance of Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, two American sprinting powerhouses who have torched the 100-meter world.  Lyles, with a blistering 9.83-second personal best, is a true showman who thrives when the pressure is on, while Bednarek’s 9.87-second mark highlights his incredible technical skill.

Williams argues that even if Simbine hits his absolute peak, “I still don’t think that’s good enough to beat Noah or Kenny.” He even casts a shadow of doubt on Simbine’s ability to keep this pace all season, noting, “I don’t expect him to be running this fast in September. If he is, maybe he’ll prove me wrong.” This skepticism feels almost like a challenge, daring Simbine to maintain his early-season fire.

But can he truly rise to the occasion against such fierce competition? As the season speeds towards its climax, Simbine finds himself at a pivotal moment. Will he harness all that incredible Diamond League momentum to prove Williams wrong and finally snatch that elusive gold medal? Meanwhile, Akani looks for something beyond individual success.

Akani Simbine is leading the way for South African athletes

For a long while now, the world of sprinting has been a duopoly of two nations. Team USA vs. the Jamaicans. But since the few years that have followed Usain Bolt’s retirement, the new generation of Islanders hasn’t been as clinical. Meanwhile, Team USA, led by the likes of Noah Lyles, felt like it would begin a reign of dominance. But that’s not what has happened, as is evident by the 2024 Olympics.

Why? Well, the answer is pretty. It’s because a new generation of African speedsters has taken the mantle, finally breaking the vice grip. It has been in its best display this year, as Akani Simbine not only won back-to-back Diamond leagues but also broke The Lightning Bolt’s record of most consecutive years with a sub-10-second performance. The cherry on top? The 9.82-second national record.

But it is not just Akani who is taking the helm. The next generation is also quite ready. And the brightest one of the bunch? None other than 19-year-old phenom Bayanda Walaza! Just last weekend in Zagreb, Croatia, he blazed to an astonishing 9.94 seconds, making him the fastest South African under 20 ever and placing him fourth on the country’s all-time list.

With Benjamin Richardson (9.86s) at 21 and Shaun Maswanganyi (9.91s) at 24, both still young and improving, South Africa is truly entering a golden era of sprinting. But can these youngsters keep pushing themselves as relentlessly as Simbine? Adding even more excitement, Gift Leotlela is making a powerful comeback. The 27-year-old, who previously hit a 9.94s personal best in 2021, just snatched the 2025 national championship 100m title in April with a 9.99s dash, edging out Walaza by a hair.

After battling injuries, Leotlela’s return is a huge boost to South Africa’s sprint arsenal. And while Wayde van Niekerk’s career has been hit by injuries, his 9.94s speed is a constant reminder of his potential. With this incredible depth, how will South Africa shake up the global sprinting landscape? Simbine’s steady leadership, combined with this explosive new talent, is setting South Africa up to be a true sprinting powerhouse. The question now is, can this dynamic squad truly dominate the world stage?

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