Local athlete brings silver home

Edenglen High School celebrated the success of one of its former learners and Olympian Akani Simbine.

Simbine recently attained a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and was one of the country’s flag bearers at the games.

He won the medal after competing in the men’s 4×100 relay at the Stade de France on August 9.

ALSO READ: Athletes to represent SA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games announced

The 30-year-old competed alongside teammates Shaun Maswanganyi (23), Bradley Nkoana (19) and Bayanda Walaza (18) in the relay.

Simbine ran the anchor position, the final leg of the relay, for team SA and took the team from fifth position to second.

Walaza set the team off, clocking 10.41 before handing the baton to Maswanganyi, who ran down the back straight of the track in 9.06. Nkoana, with 9.32, brought the baton to Simbine, who finished his leg of the race in 8.78.

Team SA finished with a new African record of 37.57 while Canada won gold with 37.50 and Great Britain closed third with 37.61.

ALSO READ: HRS athlete claims third place at championships

South Africa ended the Olympics with six medals; one gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

During the men’s 100m sprint final, on August 4, Simbine missed out on a podium position by the narrowest of margins.

Although his 9.82 set a new South African 100m sprint record, it was 0.01 seconds off from third.

Public relations and marketing coordinator Itumeleng Gwangwa said: “Words could never describe how proud we are of your success. Thank you for always making us proud.

“Edenglen High School will always stand behind you.”

While at Edenglen High, Simbine was part of the first-team rugby and received full colours in athletics three times and full colours for soccer.

ALSO READ: SA athlete claims gold at International Bowls for the Disabled championships

During his matric year in 2011, Simbine attained a bronze medal at the South African Junior Athletics Championships.

In 2017, the school invited Simbine to return when they unveiled a grandstand named after him in honour of his athletic achievements and prowess.

His former principal, Trevor Weinerlein, previously said the teachers who taught Simbine described him as an intelligent, capable, dedicated and self-motivated learner.

“Simbine has always been a highly talented athlete and while at Edenglen High, he was a dedicated learner.

“He is without question a humble and a valuable member of the Edenglen High family and South Africa.”

He was described as a true sportsman.

The 2024 games marked Simbine’s third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.

ALSO READ: Athletes hit Bedfordview streets to help raise funds for CHOCH

In 2016, he competed at the Rio de Janeiro in the men’s 100m final finishing fifth in 9.94.

At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Simbine finished fourth in 9.93 while competing in the men’s 100m final.

Despite missing out on medals at Tokyo and Rio Simbine has 12 internationally recognised medals for representing South Africa, and another for representing Africa under his belt.