Akani Simbine: Young talent need guidance to succeed

At 30 years old, Simbine has consistently run the 100m in under 10 seconds for the past decade. 

Despite his impressive track record, he has yet to medal at the World Championships or Olympic Games.

However, this year he is the clear favourite to win his first Olympic medal in Paris next month. 

For Simbine, the issue in South Africa isn’t talent but the mindset, which he views as the main barrier preventing athletes from achieving greatness.

"Personally, for me, it's just mindset. I come from a background of you have to work hard for everything that you're gonna get, nothing comes free, nothing comes easy and when you are there you need to hold on to it as tight as you can and that's literally what I've been doing,” Simbine said.

“I think a lot of the younger athletes, for them, it's more of you know, we are coming to the sport, we get deals and then you forget that you actually need to work hard. You kind of lose that hunger and I think that's where the younger guys lose it but there is talent, that's something that I always say, there's so much talent in South Africa.

“It's just the guys getting the right mindset and pushing it because it's tough, athletics is really tough."

READ: Long jumper Luvo Manyonga's comeback strategy for when his ban ends

According to Simbine, the seven-time South Africa 100m champion, the system from school sports to university level has undergone significant changes since his time.

These changes may have impacted the mentality and success of current athletes.  

"I think the guys are there, the athletes are there but the mindset of the athletes and also the system doesn't help. The system doesn't help breed more athletes because if you look at how we were.

“The system that we were running in when we were still in university is different to what is now and that's also a change, that's a difference but that's something I can't change but it's all up to higher powers."