Sprint stars Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruinjies represent a new era for South African athletes

WHEN South Africans Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruinjies finished one-two in the men’s 100m on Monday night all the talk was about Jamaican Johan Blake’s shock third placing.

WHEN South Africans Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruinjies finished one-two in the men’s 100m on Monday night all the talk was about Jamaican Johan Blake’s shock third placing.

With the men’s 200m to be run on Thursday night, the real question is whether the performances of Simbine and Bruinjies signal the emergence of a new superpower of world athletics — the black South African sprinter.

Simbine was born in September 1992, seven months after the historic white-only referendum which is recognised as the end of apartheid. Bruinjies’ birthdate was July 1993, ten months before Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president of South Africa.

The significance is obvious. Simbine and Bruinjies represent the first generation of black South African athletes who have lived their entire lives free of apartheid.

They have trained and competed from the very start of their careers with the full backing of government-funded pathways designed to give black athletes every chance of succeeding at the highest level.

South Africa’s Henricho Bruintjies (left, silvermedal ) and Akani Simbine (gold) celebrate after the men's 100m final at the Commonwealth Games.

Some would say more than every chance. After decades of disadvantage many of South Africa’s black athletes are being given a leg-up denied to their white counterparts.

By 2020 all South African sporting federations must field teams with at least 50 per cent black representation, or risk losing government funding.

It is a quota system that some international commentators believe could have dire effects on the standard of South African cricket and rugby sides, with less talented or inexperienced black players getting preference simply to meet colour requirements.

Athletics is a different matter. As Simbine, Bruinjies and other South African track and field athletes have shown at these Games, in their sport the stopwatch is the ultimate arbiter.

Simbine’s winning time on Monday night of 10.03 sec was the second fastest men’s 100m run this year. Going into tonight’s 200m final the fastest time of the year was 19.69 sec run by fellow South African Clarence Munyai last month.

South Africa’s Akani Simbine celebrates winning gold in the 100m final. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake was third.

For those wondering who would step into the shoes of the great Usain Bolt, the emergence of the South Africans at these Games has been something of a shock.

Prior to the Simbine-Bruinjies quinella on Monday night many believed it would be Bolt’s long-time understudy Blake or Canadian Andre De Grasse, a no-show to the Gold Coast due to fitness concerns.

Few thought a challenge would come from South Africa, but the success of their team at this meet will be a huge incentive for the many young black athletes currently making major strides back home.

At the same time as the first three days of the Commonwealth Games the South African junior athletics titles were held in Paarl, Western Cape.

Standout performer was 17 year-old Gontse Morake, who set a national record in the 400m hurdles and also won the triple jump.

President of Athletics South Africa, Aleck Skhosana praised the talent on show in words that should sound a warning to athletes around the world.

“South African athletics has a great future,” he said. “We need to show that as a country we can dominate at all levels.”

Originally published as Sprint stars Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruinjies represent a new era for South African athletes