On paper, Team USA, stacked with talent like Courtney Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King, and Brandon Hicklin, looked like the clear favorites. But as the baton exchanges unfolded, you could start to see little cracks in their execution. It was a showdown at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China! Track fans definitely won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon. In the men’s 4x100m final, South Africa’s star took over the track, blazing down that anchor leg to just sneak past Team USA’s Brandon Hicklin in what was a photo finish.

The South African guys—Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and the Diamond League standout, Akani Simbine himself—rocketed across the line in a world-leading 37.61 seconds, pushing ahead of the Americans by a tiny 0.05 seconds, who finished at 37.66 seconds. Canada snagged the bronze with a 38.11-second run. This wasn’t just a win for South Africa; it was history in the making! They’re the first African team ever to grab gold in this event. But seriously, how did the powerhouse U.S. squad let this one slip away right at the very end?

Well, star star-studded USA Team started well, but Simbine’s incredible anchor leg—a true masterclass in raw speed and determination—really exposed where the U.S. was vulnerable, especially when it came to their relay handoffs. This isn’t exactly a new problem for the Americans. Remember back in 2024, Bednarek himself talked about a disappointing relay performance in Tokyo, admitting, “I feel we can do a lot better than that. We just need to be more organized.” And wow, those words clearly still ring true. South Africa’s super smooth teamwork and Simbine’s sheer willpower to win left the U.S. stunned, with only silver in hand.

For South African fans, this win was pure national pride, showing just how much they’re growing on the global stage. Meanwhile, the U.S. team was left to pick themselves up, that second-place finish was a really tough pill to swallow. And fans are not letting it pass just like that!

Fans express discontent with Team USA for dismal performance

It was supposed to be Team USA’s race, plain and simple, at the 2025 World Athletics Relays over in China. But guess what? South Africa’s Akani Simbine had a completely different script in mind! American fans, though, were absolutely fuming. One fan vented on X, “I told y’all, if someone just gets close to Kenny, the rest of the team goes down.” So, what exactly went wrong for that star-studded U.S. lineup?

The U.S. team—Courtney Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King, and Hicklin—just couldn’t quite get it together, struggling with their rhythm and cohesion. Fans were quick to point fingers, especially at Bednarek’s leg, with one pleading, “C’mon Kenny, give them enough of a lead to hold SA off… Hicklin gotta finish stronger, can’t slow down at the end like that.”

Meanwhile, Simbine’s blazing anchor leg was earning nothing but praise. “Akani Simbine has matured and is ready for something special in Tokyo ‘25,” a fan excitedly noted, while another chimed in, “Akani is faster than all of these guys on any day, way to drop a lead.” The frustration was just dripping from every comment—fans expected so much more from a team with such a big name. But how on earth did the U.S. falter so badly?

Ultimately, it all came down to execution. “Such a poor performance all around throughout the event, such a mixed bag of performances,” another fan sadly lamented. South Africa’s incredible teamwork and Simbine’s sheer brilliance truly exposed the U.S.’s ongoing relay woes. So, the big question is, will the Americans finally tighten things up before the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo? Or will Akani Simbine come back to steal the show once more?