Simbine aims to end World Championship medal drought in Hungary

Prinsloo and Simbine were named coach and athlete of the year by Athletics SA (ASA) in January.

But winning a medal at the World Championships would be the biggest highlight in the 13 years they have worked together.

 Prinsloo is willing to bet his last penny on Simbine overcoming his disappointment on the international stage and he believes Simbine could do it in Hungary this year.

The 29-year-old SA 100m champion has run consistently under 10 seconds for a decade and has reached the finals of World Championships and Olympic Games, but has not been fast enough to win an international medal.

However, the fastest times of his athletics career have been set in Hungary, where the eagerly awaited World Championships will be held in Budapest from 19-27 August 2023.

In July 2021, Simbine opened his European season with a PB of 9.84 in Szekesfehervar in Hungary.

In 2018, Simbine clocked 9.89 in Budapest during a local meeting to register his PB that year. 

Speaking to SABC Sport, Prinsloo says returning to Budapest for the World Championships could be a good omen for the SA sprint king. “There is something about Hungary, and Akani loves to race there. He ran the fastest times in his career in Hungary, and this is a big year for him to get his hands on a world medal. If there is a place where he can achieve this, it is Budapest,” said Prinsloo.

The qualifying standard for the men’s 100m is 10:00, and Simbine can dip in under 10 seconds and book his ticket to Budapest.

Every year, Simbine attends a training camp in Gemona, Italy, with his coach Prinsloo and his training partners before visiting Budapest to compete in a few local races. Prinsloo says the big plan is to make him a world medallist in 2023, and he would do everything in his power to him help reach that goal in a country where he performs well. 

 “I worked with Akani as a youngster and dreamed about a podium place in a world final. I have a feeling this is our year to fulfil that dream. 

 He knows that and is working hard towards achieving that dream. Hungary is closer to Gemona, and he enjoys the food, weather, and environment there. He is in a good space where he is in that country,” said Prinsloo.

Simbine came close to winning a medal by making two world finals, and all eyes will be on him to break his drought and return to South Africa as a hero after the World Championships.

Simbine finished fifth in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.

Simbine finished fourth in the World Championships final in London in 2017, clocking a time of 10.01.

He qualified for an Olympic final, finishing fourth with a time of 9.93 in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021.

Simbine ran a season-best 9.93 in the 100m final to finish fifth at the 2022 World Championships in the United States, and he is vying for a maiden international medal.

Simbine and his training partners Carina Horn, Clarence Munyai, and Sibusiso Matsenjwa will begin their season on March 30 at the South African Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom. The national championships could set the tone for the season for Simbine. 

Athletics South Africa will host Grand Prix events (Continental Tour and Challenger meetings) in Tshwane on April 12, Germiston on April 19, and Potchefstroom on April 26.

Prinsloo stated that the three meetings could be held before heading to Gemona for a training camp in May to prepare for the European season. 

“We will return after the World Championships, hopefully with a medal. We train in Tshwane, Germiston, and Kempton Park and alternate these venues weekly. My biggest wish is for Akani to make the podium. He has a few races locally to prepare him for Europe and Budapest, where he hopes to make history,” added Prinsloo.