Akani Simbine was crowned Sports Star of the Year at the 19th SA Sports Awards in Sun City on 23 August 2026, capping a career defined as much by longevity as by speed.
From Kempton Park to the national stage
The 32-year-old sprinter from Kempton Park beat strong finalists including Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx to win South Africa’s highest individual sporting honour. The award underlines Simbine’s role not only as a relentless competitor on the track but also as a visible advocate for development in South African athletics.
Beyond medals and times, the trophy recognised an athlete who has pushed the boundaries of consistency in sprinting. According to the reporting, Simbine became the first athlete to record a legal sub-10-second 100m in 11 consecutive seasons (2015–2025), a streak he has since extended. Earlier in the year he amassed more than 50 legal sub-10 performances, a figure offered as evidence of meticulous preparation and resilience.
“I didn't know I was gonna win. A lot of the years I've been nominated for sportsman of the year and I'd always miss out… That's my biggest thank you to [my parents] for supporting me and supporting the journey,”
The award citation and Simbine’s acceptance speech also acknowledged the team around him, singling out coach Werner Prinsloo for his contribution to the athlete’s enduring form.
More than a stopwatch
Simbine’s public profile has expanded beyond race-day performances. The reporting notes that he has been vocal about the need to invest in talent pathways and create sporting opportunities at home — a stance that positions him as a role model and a builder of the sport.
That combination of elite output and public advocacy makes Simbine a significant figure for South African athletics at a moment when producing and retaining talent domestically is a key challenge. His win at Sun City will add to conversations about how elite athletes can be catalysts for systems-level change.
- Awards: Sports Star of the Year, 19th SA Sports Awards (Sun City, 23 August 2026)
- Rivals named: Temba Bavuma and Malcolm Marx were among the finalists
- Key achievements: First athlete to run legal sub-10 in 11 consecutive seasons (2015–2025); over 50 legal sub-10s earlier in 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 32 |
| Hometown | Kempton Park |
| Coach | Werner Prinsloo |
| Notable streak | Legal sub-10s in 11 consecutive seasons (2015–2025) |
For supporters of athletics — from recreational clubs to schools and provincial bodies — Simbine’s trajectory is a clear example of what a sustained, supported career can look like. His consistency makes him a dependable draw for meets and a useful benchmark for the next generation of sprinters.
At a broader level, the award serves as recognition that individual excellence that endures year after year is as valuable to the sporting ecosystem as headline-grabbing global medals. Simbine’s insistence on investing in the future of the sport complements that idea: success at the top can be a lever for deeper, structural development if the right conversations follow.
Those conversations are likely to continue in the months ahead as athletics prepares for more international competitions and as younger athletes look for pathways into high-performance programmes. Simbine’s season-by-season reliability and his public commentary on development make him a central voice in that debate.
Whatever the next target, the Sun City award provides a fitting acknowledgement of an athlete who has been, in many senses, South Africa’s sprinting rock.
