With South Africa precariously-placed in the men’s 4x100m relay after three legs at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, a moment of magic from Akani Simbine powered Team SA into the final.
With just the top two teams advancing to the final, South Africa were well outside the top four before Simbine ran the anchor leg.
Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana seemed to have left too much for Simbine to do, but he powered past his competition to bag second place.
America’s team of Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King and Courtney Lindsay won the relay in 37.47 seconds, with SA just behind in 37.94.
That finish from Akani Simbine in the Men's 4x100m Relay heat 🔥🔥
He passed four other sprinters to take South Africa from sixth to second in a matter of seconds 🇿🇦💥#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/GMX5o4I5H5
Simbine the toast of Mzansi
The praise on X, for Simbine was universal.
X user @JacquesMaree73 said: “We were tied second-last at that final handover (only ahead of the Dutch and pretty much level with Nigeria and Australia), and Simbine still managed to run us into second place and sub-38. Incredible athlete.”
“Dusting the finishers like that is crazy” posted @JulzSuede.
“Akani Simbine has reached shiny new heights with his last 50m stretch” said @carryonmrkash
As for South Africa’s chances in the final, “We actually have a shot for a medal here” said @MrSakzaSA.
Whether Team SA will call on the services of Wayde van Niekerk in the final on Thursday, remains to be seen, but it would be a big call to include the 400m world record holder in place of any of the runners that qualified for the medal race.