"I just cramped" - Simbine ready for World Relays after injury scare at SuperSport Simbine Classic

South Africans can breathe a sigh of relief as their 4x100m anchor, Akani Simbine is in good health. Although the 32-year-old clocked 9.98 in the second heat of the men’s 100m at the inaugural SuperSport Simbine Classic at the at the Pilditch Stadium on Tuesday 28 April, he cramped during the final and finished last in the race that was won by Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme in 10:03. American Pjai Austin finishing second in 10.06, and Canada’s 200m Olympic champion Andre De Grasse showing strong top-end speed to claim third in 10.08.

Simbine is part of Team South Africa that will compete at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone this weekend (2-3 May) with the goal of defending their title. He says South Africans shouldn’t worry as he will be ready for the competition.

Akani Simbine celebrated by his team after the success of the inaugural SuperSport Simbine Classic at the Pilditch Athletics Stadium on 28 April. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

“I was just cramping, everything just started cramping. If we there wasn't a false start, I would have been fine. As soon as I got into start, like ‘on your marks’, like everything just started cramping. So after that, I knew that I couldn’t push because I would hurt something. Yes, the anchor still here, I just need to get some rest and recovery,” explained Simbine after limping to an 11.16 finish.

But the man who led the SA men’s 4x100m team to the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was happy with his season opener - yet another sub 10 second clocking.

“I wasn't expecting it. I was just coming out to actually just run and see where the body's at - just to make sure that I actually finish off the race and see how my race pattern is. So I’m really happy with it. In the final, I just cramped up a lot. So I’m just making sure that the body stays healthy,” he says.

Simbine says he is ready to lead SA's men's 4x100m team at the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana on 2-3 May. Photo Credit: Supplied.

In addition to his individual performance, the global sprint star is elated with the first edition of his meet. The SuperSport Simbine Classic is the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver track and field meeting in South Africa, and Simbine hopes it can grow to gold level someday. 

“I think one word - a success. A success and a place for growth. South Africans came together to put on a brilliant show for athletics and show the world how athletics is in South Africa. We have such a great product from the school's program to the seniors. We have such a great product. We want do a gold. Everybody just needs to come on board so we can make sure it's a gold. I'm confident that we can do it.”