Team South Africa experienced a bittersweet day at the London Diamond League as Zakhiti Nene produced a stunning performance to claim a podium finish in the men’s 400m, while Akani Simbine faltered in the 100m dash, finishing outside the top three in a race filled with top global sprinting talent.
Nene, who has been steadily building form throughout the 2025 season, clocked a season’s best time of 44.92 seconds to place third behind a world-class field. The 26-year-old demonstrated both tactical maturity and finishing strength, surging in the final 100 metres to clinch a deserved spot on the podium. The race was won by Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who thrilled the home crowd with a time of 44.31, while American Vernon Norwood took second in 44.70.
For Nene, this performance marks a significant step forward as he eyes qualification for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. It was a confident, composed run, and a sign that he could emerge as a legitimate contender on the global stage. Speaking after the race, Nene credited his training block and mental preparation: “We’ve been building for this. It’s not just about times anymore — it’s about racing smart and learning how to finish strong.”
South Africa’s 400m talent pool has seen a revival in recent years, and Nene’s performance in London only strengthens the argument that the country could return to medal contention in the one-lap event, especially if he maintains his trajectory.
On the flip side, Akani Simbine’s outing in the men’s 100m was far less encouraging. The national record holder, who had looked sharp earlier in the season, struggled from the blocks and never truly found his rhythm in a loaded field that included American Christian Coleman, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. Simbine crossed the line in seventh place with a time of 10.13 seconds — well off his personal best and below the expectations of his fans and coaching team.
The race was won by Seville, who powered to an impressive 9.92 win, holding off Coleman (9.95) and Hughes (10.01). Simbine, meanwhile, looked out of sorts, his usual fluid sprint mechanics missing, and his reaction time slower than usual. It was a stark contrast to his season-opening performances and raised questions about his readiness for the global championships.
Simbine, a perennial figure in major finals over the last decade, now faces a challenge to regain his top form in time. With only weeks left before the World Championships, the clock is ticking. In his post-race comments, he acknowledged the setback but remained optimistic: “It wasn’t the race I wanted, but I’m not panicking. We’ve got time to fix what went wrong.”
South Africa’s athletics fans will hope he can do just that. With Nene offering a silver lining in the 400m, there remains hope that the nation can still leave a strong mark in Tokyo.
In the broader context, the London Diamond League served as a critical litmus test for South African sprinters. While one athlete rose to the occasion and signaled his readiness for the world stage, another will have to regroup quickly to recapture the form that has made him one of Africa’s p
remier sprinters.
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