Akani Simbine: World Indoor medal doesn't define me

Simbine secured his first individual medal on the international stage in Nanjing, China, on Friday, where he finished third in the Men’s 60m in 6.54 seconds.

The 31-year-old reflected on his 15-year journey of enduring six outdoor final defeats at the Olympic Games and World Championships, but downplayed the significance of bagging “just a medal”.

"It's just a statement to say, like, 'Yes, the medal, I've got it. It's been a long time waiting for a medal, but it doesn't define my career, it doesn't define me,'" said Simbine.

"My career is still a career of resilience and determination, and also just pushing the boundaries – I've been the first African to do this thing at this level for so long, and I've consistently been there.

"So, for me it's been that, and I'm still going to be that athlete that shows up, I'm still that athlete that wants to compete on the highest, and wants to be the best."

Simbine was merely looking to test himself on the indoor circuit, but surpassed his own expectations by securing a podium finish to mark the country's first in 15 years.

"It was just processes – the goal was to get into the final because it gives me three races to actually work on my best 60m, and that was the whole plan, take it round by round, use the 60m and work on certain aspects of the race and not try change too much," he added.

"Because the 60m indoor makes you change a lot of things in your race, and for me that was the big thing – not to change a lot, but make sure that I am executing what we came to execute in round one, two and the final."

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