Akani Simbine finally has an individual medal from a major championship.
That’s after the 31-year-old stormed to third place in the 60m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China on Friday.
The Pretoria sprinter was, of course, the protagonist in leading the South African team to a 4x100m relay silver medal at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
But, after coming so close at various major championships over the last decade, Friday’s performance saw Akani securing his first-ever individual podium place at a global event.
Britain’s Jeremiah Azu equalled his personal best to take the gold in a time of 6.49 seconds with Australian Lachlan Kennedy second by just one-hundredth of a second and Akani third in 6.54.
This is the first time Akani has competed at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, having only run one race indoors in the build-up to the event.
“It’s really good to get the medal as this is my first indoor championship ever in my life,” said an ecstatic Akani afterwards. “Coming in, running and getting a medal, I cannot ask for anything more.
“I came with no expectations, only trying to see how far I can get in this run. I had never done this before, it’s all different, it’s all new.”
He added that there is still work plenty of work to be done ahead of the outdoor season.
“Confidence-wise, this is bringing me up, but also, there is something I need to further work on, like the first 10 metres in the beginning of the race, and that would leave me less work to do at the end. I am now looking forward to the season and growing in the season and getting better.”
Earlier in the day, Prudence Sekgodiso ran a controlled race to claim victory in her 800m heat, winning in a time of 2:03.89.
That saw the 23-year-old Olympic finalist qualifying sixth fastest for the semifinals which are scheduled for the early hours of Saturday morning, South African time. The final will be contested on Sunday afternoon.
Just two other South Africans are competing in Nanjing. Cheswill Johnson will be in action in the long jump and Chris van Niekerk in the shot put – both on Sunday.