Akani Simbine is dashing his way to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and on Tuesday, the sprinter broke a 100-metre record that’s been held for 15 years, at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial meet in Hungary.
Akani Simbine breaks African sprint record
As reported by BBC News, on Wednesday, Simbine came in a millisecond ahead of Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba’s 9.85-second recordbreaker he posted at the 2006 Qatar games.
Right now, the 27-year-old is Africa’s fastest 100m sprinter at 00:00:08:84 and this year, he is only second behind the United States’ (US) Trayvon Bromell in international standings.
Reacting to the record-breaking sprint, Fasuba showed true camaraderie when he congratulated Simbine for breaking the 15-year record.
“Congrats to Akani Simbine!!! the new African record holder in the 100m. Its been a pleasure holding it for 15 years and 2 months,” he wrote on social media.
What’s next for the sprinter?
Simbine’s ambition to break the fastest sprinter record is edging ever-so close. However, with the 2020 Tokyo games around the corner, there is at least one last dress rehearsal for the 27-year-old.
On Friday night, Simbine will hit the track and face 2021’s fastest man in the world, the US’ Bromell, at the Monaco Diamond League.
The race will also include Bromell’s countrymen Ronnie Baker and Fred Kerley, as well as Canada’s Rio 2016 bronze medalist, Andre de Grasse.