South African sprint legend joins Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell in Olympics record-breaking league

Akani Simbine is joint third on an elite list of Olympics record-breaking performance that includes Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.

Following his groundbreaking anchor run in the men's 4x100m final at Paris Olympics, South African sprint legend Akani Simbine has joined Jamaican icons Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell in a record-breaking league.

The three-time Olympian, having finished fifth at the Rio 2016 100m final then found himself in the worst position in sport – fourth in an Olympic final – not once, but twice at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, finally got the deserving global medal in his legendary career when he anchored the young South African 4x100m squad to the silver medal in Paris.

Akani Simbine anchored the South African 4x100m relay squad to the silver medal at Paris 2024 Olympics

Simbine's blistering anchor leg run of 8.78s saw him take Team South Africa from fifth to second, and for what he has been through in his career, it is worth its weight in gold.

In addition, the 30-year-old's blazing time also propelled him to an all-time great list as the third-fastest relay anchor in Olympics history, behind the legendary Bolt (8.65s) and Powell (8.68s).

Following his record-breaking run and medal, Simbine said in his post-race interview:

“This medal is for everyone who wished a medal upon me,” he said, basking in the afterglow of the most memorable performance of his career. “I’ve finally got a major championship medal.

Akani Simbine at the Paris 2024 Olympics

“My career isn’t defined by medals, it’s all been about consistency. I’ve always been an athlete who has stepped up to the plate and fought hard. A medal is just the cherry on the top for me. I am glad to be inspiring a new generation in South Africa, in Africa. My medal belongs to them, to the whole world.”

Simbine has been one of the world's most consistent sprinters in the past decade, reaching all global finals. His success in Paris may have finally been the fuel and good luck charm needed to claim an individual medal in the 100m event for the next few years of his career.