Akani Simbine has outlined a bold yet calculated approach to challenge global sprinting giants like Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson. With a dominant start to his 2025 season, Simbine is set on his quest to dethrone these rivals and become the fastest man in the world.
Simbine’s impressive track record already speaks volumes. He won his first-ever individual medal at a global championship, securing a bronze in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China. Following that achievement, he posted an incredible 9.90 seconds in the 100m at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, marking the fastest time of the season in the event.
Now, as he eyes the World Championships in Tokyo later this year, Simbine plans to continue his dominant performances by adopting a methodical and results-oriented approach to training. The South African sprinter revealed that his strategy revolves around utilizing high-class training facilities, a factor he credits with his success in the 2024 season.
In the previous year, Simbine clocked four sub-10-second times in the 100m, which he attributes to the rigorous training regime he followed. One key element in his success was his time at the OIM Centre, a facility designed for sprinters that provides access to specialized equipment. Simbine spent six weeks at the center before the 2024 Olympics, where he underwent a series of drills and exercises aimed at improving his speed, power, and endurance. These included interval training, plyometrics, strength training, and sprint-specific drills, all tailored to maximize his performance.
He notes that the combination of the right equipment and the right environment made a significant difference in his performance. “In those 6 weeks, using all that stuff, I went to London and ran 9.86, then went to the Olympics, ran 9.82 in the final, and that was literally just from 6 weeks of prepping with the right stuff,” Simbine said in a podcast interview. This time marked a new personal best for him and showed that with the right tools, his potential could be limitless.
However, Simbine also acknowledged that training resources are not always readily available for him, unlike his competitors, such as Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson. Both Lyles and Thompson have the luxury of access to cutting-edge training facilities and the support systems that come with it, giving them a significant edge in their sprinting preparations. Simbine, on the other hand, often faces challenges such as funding for the necessary training equipment and securing accommodation for races.
Despite these hurdles, Simbine remains determined and believes that with access to the same resources as his rivals, he would be able to fully realize his potential and potentially surpass them. He explained that if he were able to train without the stresses of logistics and financial concerns, he would be able to focus entirely on improving his performance. “If I don’t have to think about those things, and we have all the access to the equipment that we need, that can get done,” Simbine stated.
In essence, Simbine’s blueprint for success hinges on gaining access to the same level of elite resources that his rivals already have. With the right tools and an environment free from distractions, he believes he can challenge Lyles, Thompson, and others for the title of the fastest sprinter in the world. As he prepares for the World Championships in Tokyo, his sights are firmly set on becoming the top sprinter on the global stage.
