'He won't be denied the podium'- Justin Gatlin backs South Africa's Akani Simbine as major threat in 2025

Justin Gatlin backs South Africa's Akani Simbine Image source: Imago

'He won't be denied the podium'- Justin Gatlin backs South Africa's Akani Simbine as major threat in 2025

Abigael Wafula 12:25 - 29.03.2025

Justin Gatlin believes Akani Simbine's strong start to the season makes him a serious contender for a podium finish at the World Championships.

American sprint legend Justin Gatlin is in awe of Akani Simbine’s strong start to the season and has explained why he poses a huge threat to Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson and Co ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Akani Simbine debuted at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, winning a bronze medal, the first individual medal in his career in a global championship and Justin Gatlin believes that it is just the beginning.

The 2004 Olympic champion revealed that if Akani Simbine could make his indoor debut and win a medal, then he certainly has a chance of winning a medal outdoors as well.

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Gatlin explained that he seemingly must have changed his training approach to ensure he is ready in September when the World Championships will be held.

“They are always outdoor racing in December and January. You can imagine having that whole load on you of sprinting fast and you have to wait until May and then now the world is getting outdoors,” Justin Gatlin said on the Ready Set Go podcast.

“You have already been there and you have to sustain that and hold it for way longer than everybody else.

“Maybe a little tweak here and there and now that he is a veteran athlete, deciding to get ready with the whole world is not a problem. If he did that, he won't be denied the podium.”

South Africa's unique training system

Akani Simbine
Image source: Imago

Akani Simbine has been a consistent sprinter, making the final of all major championships since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Gatlin explained that one of the reasons behind his poor show was due to the training structure in South Africa, which is very different from how the rest of the world operates.

He pointed out that Akani Simbine and Co tend to get in shape too early and by the time the global championship comes, most of them are always already worn out and it becomes difficult for them to thrive.

“You look at most of the World Championships, he just missed the podium most of the time. He is fourth, I mean, one time maybe like a fifth,” he said.

“But also, I think for me, it contributes to the fact of where he is in the world and their preparation and how early they prepare compared to the world. They are always in sprint shape by December and that means outdoor sprint shape.”

With American sprint icon Justin Gatlin already making his prediction, other top sprinters should be wary of the plan Akani Simbine has heading outdoors.