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| Real Name/Full Name | Akani Simbine |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Akani Simbine (Mr. Chill and AK) |
| Birth Place: | Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 21 September 1993 |
| Age/How Old: | 30 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 176 cm In Feet and Inches – 5′ 9″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 74 Kg In Pounds – 163 lbs |
| Parents Name: | Father – Unknown Mother – Elsie Simbine |
| Siblings: | Unknown |
| School: | Edenglen High School |
| College: | University of Pretoria |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Zodiac Sign: | Virgo |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Engaged |
| Girlfriend: | Jo Prins since 2020 (Previously dating Abigail Visagie) |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | N/A |
| Kids/Children Name: | 1 Kid with Chantelle Hermans |
| Profession: | Sprinter (in 100m and 200m races) |
| Net Worth: | $12 Million |
| Last Updated: | March 2024 |
Akani Simbine is a renowned South African Sprinter who mainly runs the 100-meters race. Simbine is the 100-meters African Record Holder with a time of 9.84 seconds which he set in July 2021 during the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo.
In addition to this, Simbine came 5th in the 2016 Summer Olympics among being featured in several other races. In 2016 and 2018, he became of great help to South Africa through which he helped the country win in the 4×100 meters relay on the African Championships. In 2021, he also played a great role in assisting South Africa to win the gold medal in the 2021 World Relays.
Keep reading this article as we dive in on the early life, education, biography, career, awards, achievements, and net worth of Akani Simbine in 2024.
Biography and Early Life
Akani Simbine was born on 21 September 1993 in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. He got raised in Kempton Park by his parents. His father’s name is yet to be identified. Nevertheless, his mother is known as Elsie Simbine.
His mother gave him much coercion to concentrate on his education for him to find a ‘real job’ one day. Even though his parents gave him much encouragement in pursuing athletics, they remained adamant about education leading Simbine to first complete his education at the University of Pretoria.
Education
Akani Simbine is an educated man who studied at the University of Pretoria. Earlier before joining University, Akani Simbine was studying at Edenglen High School. He is yet to share details regarding his early education.
Nevertheless, Akani Simbine came into the limelight while at the university in Athletics, through which his performance while still, a student was stunning and outstanding to many.
He completed his studies in the year 2017 and graduated with a Bachelor of Information Science degree. Nevertheless, much of his studies came from the coercion he had from his mother, known as Elsie Simbine.
While in his University, Simbine got named as the world’s fastest student through which he became the first South African to get below 10 seconds for the first time. He won in the World Student Games in Gwangju, South Korea, in 2015 with a time of 9.97 Seconds.
In an interview with the Modern Athlete after games, Akani Simbine noted out that
“I’m nearly done with my studies, but as I keep telling people, I’m going to get my degree and then just give it to my mother – here, this is yours – and then I’m going to go run full-time and focus on that,”
Personal Life: Wife, Kids, Girlfriend, Ex-Girlfriend, etc.
Akani Simbine is not yet married. Nevertheless, he is in a serious relationship that is expected to end in marriage. Akani is dating his girlfriend known as Jo Prins. Jo Prins is a netball player, and Akani Simbine proposed to her on 7 November 2020. Akani’s girlfriend graduated from Stellenbosch University, through which Akani joined her in the ceremony.
Before this relationship, Simbine was previously in another romantic relationship with a News Anchor and the Moja Love Presenter known as Abigail Visagie.
Prior to this, he was involved in another short-lived relationship with Chantelle Hermans, which was brief and led to the birth of his kid. Akani Simbine, however, has remained diligent and responsible for taking good care of his kid. He has always remained in the life of his kid since his birth.
Is Akani Simbine Gay?
No, Akani Simbine is not gay. He is of a straight sexual orientation through which he is in a serious romantic relationship with Jo Prins. Simbine has had no controversies nor any rumors of him being gay in whatsoever way.
Professional Career
Akani Simbine’s career has been one of its own. He would be beaten by other kids on other foot races in Junior School before he discovered his speed while playing football. He wanted to be a soccer player. However, on finding out his strong area in athletics, he decided to concentrate on athletics which saw him have much success.
Simbine came into the limelight in 2012 during the 3rd season as a Sprinter. This was during the Zone 6 Games held in Lusaka. He made a record by winning the 100-meter by 10.19 seconds. Though he started athletics while still at a young age, his professional career in athletics commenced in the year 2013.
The commencement of his professional career saw him get featured in the 2013 World Championships for the 100-Meter race.
Later, in 2015, Akani Simbine got featured in the 2015 Universiade while he was still an Information Science Student at the University of Pretoria. During this competition, he set a new national record for the South African 100m through winning the Gold medal in the 2015 Universiade held in Gwangju, South Korea. At this point, he got named the World’s fastest Student.
In 2016, he got featured in the 100-meter race held in Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Szekesfehervar. During this race, he set a new record by registering a win of 9.98 seconds. In addition to this, he also got featured in the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016. This became his first featuring for the top world races.
In 2017, he had his first success for the top senior races through which he got featured in the 2017 IAAF Diamond League held in Doha. Akani won the 100-meter race with a time of 9.99 seconds.
Furthermore, he also won in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 100-Meter final with a time of 10.03 seconds. In 2020, he commenced his season with the 150-meter race in the University of Johannesburg Stadium. He set a new record in the race with a time of 15.08 seconds.
Simbine got featured in the 100-meter race in the University of Pretoria Tuks Stadium, where he set a new record of 9.91 seconds. In 2020, he got featured in several races, including 100-meter competitions in Marseille, Bellinzona, and Roverote. He finally completed his season by winning the 100-meter race in Rome Diamond League.
In 2021, he got featured in several South African races, and he at one point finished the race with a time of 9.82. However, it was not recorded due to the wind being over the limit for record purposes. In May 2021, he helped South Africa win the men’s 4×100-meters relay in the 2021 World Relays.
In July 2021, he set a new national and African record of 9.84 seconds in the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix. He came 4th in the 2020 summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, on 1st August 2021 with a time of 9.93 seconds. Marcell Jacobs of Italy won the race with a time of 9.80 seconds.
Awards and Achievements
Akani Simbine has had several achievements that have led him to win several medals in athletics. Some of the wins he has had include the following:
- In 2015, he won the Gold Medal for the Universiade competition held in Gwangju Korea for 100-meter race
- In 2015, he won the Bronze Medal for the Universiade competition held in Gwangju Korea for the 4x100m relay
- 2016, he won the Bronze Medal for the African Championships held in Durban, Africa, for the 100m race
- 2016, he won the Gold Medal for the African Championships held in Durban, Africa, for the 4x100m relay race
- In 2018, he won the Gold Medal for the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, for the 100m race
- In 2018, he won the Silver Medal for the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, for the 4x100m relay race
- In 2018, he also won the Gold Medal for both the 100m and 4x100m relay in the African championships
- Later in 2018, he won the Bronze Medal for the Continental Cup held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in the 100m race
- In 2019, Simbine won the Silver Medal in World Relays for the 4x200m relay
- In 2021, he won the Gold Medal for the World Relays held in Chorzow, Poland, for the 4x100m relay
Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Akani Simbine in ’2024’
Akani Simbine has an estimated net worth of $12 Million. This net worth comes from the fortunes he has made all through his athletics career. Akani has had much success making him one of the most rated athletes in Africa.
He is a record holder for several wins he has had both national and in the continent, being the fastest runner in Africa. Simbine owns several expensive cars. One of the cars he showed up in public is the Mercedes-AMG C63 S. In addition to this, he also has built his house in South Africa, where he is also ready to settle after his marriage.
Some Interesting Facts You Need To Know
- Simbine is the Number 1 Twitterati Cheerleader of the South African Team. He always acknowledges the achievements of his teammates before anyone else
- His mother encouraged him to focus on Athletics, claiming that soccer was a team sport, but athletics would have his own control
The determination and energy of Akani Simbine have been of great inspiration to his amazing success in Athletics. Despite not having a clear image of what he is really best at, he became flexible enough to change his career course.
He has been one of the most loved athletes in South Africa, contributing not only to his own success but to the success of the whole South African Team through assisting the team win in several World Relays.
