Sitting in a makeshift interview room at the Olympic village, Akani Simbine cuts a relaxed figure.
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He’s sitting with a South African flag next to him, unrehearsed, but relevant given he was one of the two Team SA flagbearers at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony a week earlier.
He looks relaxed, because he IS relaxed.
Fastest man on earth
He speaks with honesty, sincerity and there’s a sparkle in his eyes that will be replaced by a steely disposition as he prepares to walk out to face 77 000 people at the Stade de France on Sunday night.
Walking out with him will be seven other athletes, all vying for the title of fastest man on earth.
Lights, camera, action. You’ll hear a pin drop before you hear the gun fired.
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The Stade de France track itself looks as fast as any such surfaces we’ve seen at an Olympics.
Initial thoughts are that sub-9.80 seconds might be required to win gold on Sunday night.
This sounds like a bold statement given there have only been two sub-9.80s in an Olympic final in history – both Usain Bolt, in 9.63 and 9.69.
Such talk doesn’t make the two-time Olympic finalist, fifth in Rio 2016 and fourth in Tokyo 2020, as much as blink.
‘I feel confident’ – Akani Simbine
“I’m ready for whatever is required. I’ve arrived in the best shape of my life,” says the 30-year-old South Africa.
Times would suggest Akani Simbine isn’t exaggerating his form. A fortnight ago he chased home gold medal favourite Noah Lyles in the 100m at London’s Olympic Stadium, hitting the line in 9.86, with the American timing 9.82.
Only two sprinters have gone under 9.80 this year – Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (9.77) and Ferdinand Omanyala (9.73). They had tailwinds of 0.09 m/sec and +1.5 m/sec respectively. Lyles and Simbine ran into a -0.3 m/sec headwind.
“I feel confident,” Akani Simbine said.
“This year we’ve done things very different to before. The way we’ve approached the year, the way we’ve raced. My coach has put me in the position to be confident in myself/ I’m confident in my race pattern. I’m confident in how I’m racing and everything has come together to make me feel confident to go for gold.”
Gold, you say?
“Yes.”
“This year is different. I’ve focused on myself, my journey and how I’m going to race, how I’m going to out the races together, I’m focusing on myself in my lane and on my race pattern. That has been the big difference and it;’s working for me.”
Like most elite sprinters – and Simbine has been ranked in the top handful of speed machines in the world for nearly a decade – he feeds off the energy of crowds.
Only the foolish would discard Simbine’s chances
“In London there were 57 000 people at that Diamond League meeting. Having a big crowd is the best thing ever. We didn’t have that in Tokyo because of the Covid restrictions.
Simbine also has other support in the expected full hours of 77 000 this weekend as he works his way through the heats on Saturday and then the semis and final shootouts on Sunday.
“I’m happy and life is good. I have a beautiful family and they’re here supporting me. I’m in a good space, and have good energy around me. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve been getting and see the good wishes on social media.
“Having my parents, wife and kids here is special. It’s the first time they’ve ever been together to watch me race. The last time my parents watched me was at the 2017 world champs. Having their support here means the world to me.”
Only the foolish would discard Akani Simbine’s chances of reaching the podium on Saturday night. He’s been in the last two Olympic finals and knows how to adapt himself to the rounds-running of the Games programme.
Could this be yet another case of “Suid Afrika, hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie”?
Gary Lemke is reporting live from Paris for the Team SA website for the duration of the Paris Olympics 2024
