'We are producing the athletes' - Simbine excited about upcoming local sprinters as he eyes World Relays title defence

South African sprinting legend, Akani Simbine is excited that South Africa will be defending their World Athletics Relays titles closer to home. The 2026 international biennial track and field sporting event will be staged in Gaborone, Botswana from 2 to 3 May 2026. At last year's World Relays Team South Africa brought home three medals which included two gold medals in the men's 4x100m and the men's 4x400m, while the women's 4x400m took the bronze medal as Team SA finished top of the overall medals table.

Simbine leads the men's 4x100m team which comprises 4x100m: Shaun Maswanganyi, Gift Leotlela, Sinesipho Dambile, Bayanda Walaza, Karabo Letebele, Bradley Nkoana, Tsebo Matsoso, Retshidisitswe Mlenga, Abduraghmaan Karriem. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) have named a 32-member preparation squad, that includes 19 men and 13 women, in preparation for the global relays competition in the neighbouring country. Team SA had their first camp over the weekend (7-8 March) at the University of Johannesburg. Simbine stresses the importance of the training camps to sharpen up the team ahead of the meet.

"I think it is great that we are able to start off the camps like this, it proved to be a good initiative last year and two years ago when we won the silver. I think we are in a space where we need to gather and see who is in shape, who is running and who isn't. It's also good for the team spirit. Just showing up and expecting to win a medal doesn’t work. We have proven that it doesn't work. We have proven that having camps works," says Simbine who ran the anchor leg that led the men's 4x100m to victory at the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China.

400m World Record holder Wayde van Niekerk headlines the men's 4x400m squad which includes Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Gardeo Isaacs, Leendert Koekemoer, Udeme Okon, Tumisang Shezi, Mthi Mthimkulu and Antonie Matthys Nortje. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

The Olympic 4x100m silver medalist says the team is excited about the opportunity to defend their title and being able to compete in an international competition close to home.

"South Africa are the defending champions, both in the 4x100m and the 4x400m. This year it's closer to home and for us it is like defending our title at home. I am excited for that. I am excited about the team that will be coming together, I am excited about the 4x400m team and the athletes that will be coming around. We are all starting to believe. It is not just a few of us that are believing. We believe that we deserve to be in places like that. It's exciting that we will be running an international competition close to home," says Simbine. 

After setting a national record of 3:24.84 to claim the bronze medal at the 2025 World Relays, the women's 4x400m relay team will be confident of earning another medal in Gaborone, Botswana in May. The women's 4x400m team features Shirley Nekhubui, Zeney van der Walt, Hannah van Niekerk, Miranda Coetzee, Marlie Viljoen, Tamzin Thomas and Precious Molepo. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

Because the competition is in a country whose conditions are very similar to those athlete face in South African, Simbine who recently launched SA's first silver label World Athletics track and field meet, believes that the 2026 World Relays will be a good platform for the upcoming generation of sprinters to shine. But the 32-year-old was quick to stress the importance of building systems that keep supplying a pipeline of talent by ensuring that young athletes stay in the sport.

"Sprinting in South Africa is very healthy. Sprinting in Africa is very healthy. It's not just me anymore, now it's athletes in their mid 20s, early 20s and there are still the teenagers. We saw one kid (Mukona "Smiley" Manavhela) at the Curro Podium (Grand Finale) that ran a 10.20 (100m). We are producing the kids, we are producing the athletes. But now, the most important part is how do we get them from the system of high school (athletics) to the system in university and being a professional," he probes.