Legendary South African sprinter Akani Simbine has carved yet another milestone in his illustrious career, officially becoming the new "Sub-10 King" of sprinting. At the 2025 Botswana Grand Prix in Gaborone, Simbine clocked a world-leading time of 9.90 seconds (-1.4m/s), storming past a strong field and writing his name into the history books—again.

The 31-year-old sprint star edged out Kenyan powerhouse Ferdinand Omanyala, who ran a commendable 10.00s, and rising South African prospect Retshidisitswe Mlenga, who finished third in 10.15s. But it wasn't just Simbine's victory that turned heads—it was the historic streak that came with it.

With this performance, Simbine became the first man in history to run sub-10 seconds in the 100m for 11 consecutive years, surpassing sprint legends Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, who held the mark at 10 and 9 years respectively. The feat stands as a testament not just to his speed, but to an extraordinary level of consistency and longevity rarely seen in the sport.

A Decade of Elite Sprinting

From making 100m finals at every major global championship over the past decade, to narrowly missing the podium multiple times, Simbine has remained one of the most respected and resilient athletes in track and field. This latest milestone further solidifies his place among the sprinting elite.

His 2025 season has kicked off in remarkable fashion. Earlier this year, he captured his first career individual global medal—a bronze in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. That success, paired with his dominant showing in Gaborone, reflects a man in form and fueled by purpose.

Eyes on Tokyo

Now more determined than ever, Simbine has his sights set on one of the few accolades missing from his resume: a 100m medal at the World Championships. With the event set for Tokyo this summer, Simbine is aiming to peak at the right time, determined to finally break his "global outdoor medal jinx" in the marquee sprint event.

In a sport where injury, form dips, and fierce competition can end careers in an instant, Simbine’s 11-year sub-10 streak is a marvel of athletic excellence and durability.

As the 2025 season heats up, one thing is clear—Akani Simbine isn’t just racing for the podium. He’s racing into the annals of track and field history, one sub-10 at a time.