“It’s true that we’ve been together 13-14 years without winning a medal, but our resolve to work tirelessly remains unshaken,” Akani Simbine’s coach said in 2023. But 2025 seems to be Akani Simbine’s year. He won many medals, including gold at the Diamond League of the season in Xiamen, China, with a 9.99 s clocking time.

That wasn’t all—he even captained Team South Africa at the World Athletics Relays and clinched silver in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics last year. But here’s the real question: Who’s the mind behind Akani Simbine’s rise? Who helped him master the nuances of track and field? Let’s dive into the story behind the speed. Who is Akani Simbine’s coach? Let’s find out.

Meet Werner Prinsloo: Akani Simbine’s coach

When you think of Akani Simbine’s blazing speed on the track, there’s one man working tirelessly behind the scenes — Werner Prinsloo. Calm, calculated, and relentlessly focused, Prinsloo has been the strategic force guiding one of South Africa’s fastest sprinters. Many details of Akani Simbine’s coach, Werner Prinsloo, are not available in the public domain.

As per the available sources, Werner Prinsloo did his N-Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Benoni Technical College in 1995. From 1990 to 1994, he went to Hoerskool Hans Moore. His coaching career? Prinsloo stepped into the coaching world in 2005 and has been working as a Sprint Coach at ‘On Track’ since 2007. Since then, he has been working as a coach, and his partnership with Akani Simbine began in 2012, and the pair hasn’t looked back since.

Although he never competed as an elite sprinter himself, Prinsloo’s deep understanding of biomechanics and athlete psychology has shaped him into one of the most respected sprint coaches in South Africa today. Off the track, Prinsloo is a strong advocate for coach involvement in athlete development — not just from the sidelines but right through international travel and major competitions. His philosophy is simple: if the athlete is expected to perform under pressure, the coach must be equally present and accountable.

Werner Prinsloo’s career highlights and achievements

When you think of South African sprinting excellence, Werner Prinsloo is a name that stands out. As the long-time coach of Akani Simbine and mentor to other top sprinters like Clarence Munyai, Prinsloo has been instrumental in elevating South Africa’s presence on the global sprinting stage.

Prinsloo’s path to elite coaching wasn’t conventional. Initially working in the IT sector, he made a significant career shift to pursue his passion for athletics coaching full-time. This transition was facilitated by support from Simbine’s sponsor, Liquid Telecom, allowing Prinsloo to dedicate himself entirely to coaching. And then, in 2022, Prinsloo’s dedication and success were acknowledged when he was named Coach of the Year at the APCA Awards.

Werner Prinsloo’s commitment to his athletes extends beyond training sessions; he advocates for coaches to travel with their athletes to competitions, ensuring optimal performance and support. Prinsloo’s influence isn’t limited to Simbine. He also coaches Clarence Munyai, the South African record holder in the 200 meters, showcasing his ability to nurture and develop top-tier sprinting talent.

With a track record of developing world-class sprinters, Werner Prinsloo continues to play a crucial role in South Africa’s athletics scene. His journey from an IT professional to a celebrated coach underscores the impact of passion and dedication in achieving excellence.

What are Akani Simbine’s achievements under Werner Prinsloo?

Under Prinsloo’s guidance, Simbine rose from a promising university athlete to a national record holder and Olympic finalist. Prinsloo’s ability to remain grounded helped foster the kind of athlete-coach relationship that thrives on mutual respect. Even as Simbine became a globally recognized name, Prinsloo emphasized staying “calm under pressure”—something he considers essential for consistent performance at the top.

“One thing I know well. I know my top anglers really well. I know when I get up into my running, I’m pretty dangerous. It’s been proven over the years, and so I trust that,” Akani Simbine once said. And his coach is working with him to reach the heights. When Werner Prinsloo took Akani Simbine under his wing in 2012, the goal was clear: transform a talented young sprinter into a world-class athlete. Fast forward to today, and that partnership has delivered some of South Africa’s most iconic sprinting moments.

Under Prinsloo’s coaching, Simbine became the first South African to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m—a milestone that firmly placed him among the global sprinting elite. But they didn’t stop there. In 2019, Simbine made history again, joined the so-called ‘sub-dub club,’ and became the first South African to run sub-10 in the 100m and sub-20 in the 200m on the same day.

Prinsloo helped guide Simbine to the 100m finals in both the Olympics and the World Championships, making him the first South African male sprinter to do so. Simbine was an Olympic finalist in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, a World Championships finalist multiple times, a Gold medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, clocking 10.03 seconds, and an African record holder in the 100m at one point, with a blistering 9.84 seconds.

Not to mention, Akani Simbine won silver at the Paris Olympics, and this 2025 season is also nothing short of an achievement. He kicked off the season with bronze at the World Indoor Championships in the 60m race in March 2025 with a time of 6.53 s and grabbed his first global individual medal. This was just the start, and then came the Botswana Grand Prix in Gaborone. On April 19, 2025, the South African sprinter won gold and became the only athlete to run a sub-10 seconds over 100m in history for 11 consecutive years. The timings? Well, he finished 100m in 9.90 s; it was the record previously held by the legend Usain Bolt.

According to Prinsloo, keeping Simbine grounded and mentally focused has been key. As per Forbes Africa, Werner Prinsloo stated, “Sprinters seem to come in waves. If you go back to 2014 or 2015, there was a group of very good sprinters, and we thought we were going to dominate the world. But it didn’t happen. They come and go.”

With so many medals and titles already under Simbine’s belt with coach Werner Prinsloo by his side, Akani Simbine is all geared up for the Rabat Diamond League on May 25, 2025. Only time will tell if Akani will make his fans blow their minds, but all the signs point to yes.