South African Olympic athlete Akani Simbine continues to prove why he’s one of the fastest men in the world. Just weeks after grabbing bronze with a 6.54 in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships, Akani Simbine showed he’s not just in form — he’s absolutely on fire. Keeping the momentum going, Simbine turned heads once again when he clocked a world-leading 9.90 in the 100m in Gaborone.

Even World Athletics couldn’t hold back their excitement, posting on X, “WORLD LEAD 🚨 Fresh off his 60m bronze at the World Indoor Champs, Akani Simbine flies to a world-leading 9.90 in the 100m in Gaborone 💪.” But behind every stride, every medal, and every record is the unwavering support system that has helped shape his journey — his family. So, who are the parents who have been the steady force behind Akani Simbine’s incredible rise?

Meet Akani Simbine’s parents

Akani Simbine’s parents have always been his backbone, be it in his personal or professional life. His mother’s name is Elsie, and his father’s details are not publicly available. As per Akani, he grew up in two places, Kempton Park and Thembisa. Why two places? Well, his parents’ residence was Kempton Park, and Thembisa was his gran’s house, where he used to go a lot.

The 31-year-old’s parents have been his rock of support even when he shifted his sports career from soccer player to track and field. How did that happen? Akani Sibine once said, “When I was growing up, I always wanted to be a soccer player. I was fast but never thought that I  could actually run [competitively].” That’s when the turning point came in his life, and his high school deputy principal suggested he should try it. “I take up running because it would open up more doors for me, so I just did it to get him off of my back,” Akani added.

And Akani Simbine’s father didn’t think much, and “Two days later my dad found an article on my current coach in the newspaper and I started training with him. That’s when I just started enjoying running,” Akani recalled. Since then, he hasn’t looked back until he slipped into depression. His parents stood like a strong pillar behind their child and healed him through.

Talking to Olympics.com, Akani said, “In the first few weeks, I was very down and out, and I didn’t want to accept that I was depressed. My parents told me to go and talk to someone to get myself out of it, so I ended up seeing a therapist. I then had to acknowledge that I was experiencing depression and I wasn’t OK.” South African track star Akani Simbine’s parents helped him regain his strength, and now, again, he is dominating the track on both national and international levels.

Per the Super Sport YouTube channel, Akani said, “I had a pretty good childhood. Both my parents were around and gave me the best that they could. I think the thing that got me to where I’m at today is the fact that I didn’t give up. I chose a path, and I gave everything to that path.” From choosing sprinting over soccer at his mother’s encouragement to sticking with his long-time coach Werner Prinsloo, Simbine’s journey has been defined by perseverance, focus, and family support — values instilled in him from a young age. His mother also encouraged him to work on his passion. Let’s find out how.

How his mother’s influence ignited Akani Simbine’s passion for running

While Akani Simbine’s talent on the track is undeniable, the spark that ignited his sprinting journey can be traced back to his mother, Elsie. Her encouragement, guidance, and belief in his potential laid the foundation for the champion he is today. Akani Simbine’s mother is Elsie Simbine, who has been his support system since childhood. His mother handed down the sprint genes, as he said, “Yeah, my mom was a fast runner at school.” 

Akani Simbine’s mother also helped him gather strength to save himself from the school days trauma. As he put it, “And they would beat me badly, so much so that my mom would say, ‘Those boys run like horses.’ I just did not understand and envied those kids. I wanted to have the blocks and all that other stuff because I believed I would beat them if I was on their level.” Sometimes, such things give trauma to a child, but his mother’s vivid observations helped him to deal with everything.

As per the Guardian report of 2020, “There was a time when I wanted to get out. I ran six races and never finished better than sixth place in any of them. I was either 8th, 7th, or 6th, no matter how hard I tried. After one race, I went home and cried to my mom and told her I did not want to go back. I felt that running was just not for me. She didn’t say much; at least she did not encourage me to quit, yet she did not persuade me to persevere.”

“I couldn’t, like, fully leave the sport, but I had to exit because I needed to work on myself. And that was more important than me getting results and me going and running,” Akani Simbine said. Simbine spent over a week locking himself in his house after returning from the Olympics before his mother, Elsie, raised the alarm. Simbine finally acquiesced after a distressed Elsie begged her son to see someone.

What is Akani Simbine’s parents’ nationality?

Both Akani Simbine’s parents are South Africans and possess the same nationality. Akani was born on September 21, 1993, in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa, and started his racing career in 2015. Since then, he has been representing his country at the national and international levels, including the Olympics and World Championships.