Akani Simbine Faces New Challenge as American Star Charts Rankings After 3-Year Return

If there was ever a year to bet on Akani Simbine, this is it. After over a decade of near misses, heartbreaks, and gut-wrenching finishes just shy of greatness, the South African sprint king is finally writing a new chapter, one where he’s not just showing up but owning the stage. From a blazing 9.90 seconds in Botswana to a hard-earned World Indoor bronze in Nanjing, Simbine is serving notice: 2025 is his year, and he’s not here to play. But just as the world was beginning to settle into the “Simbine Season,” guess who shows up?

Trayvon Bromell. Yes, that Trayvon Bromell, the American bullet who vanished from the scene last year due to injury. Some thought he was done. Most had moved on. But now? He’s back. And he’s not here to ease in slowly. Trayvon Bromell made a stunning return to the Diamond League circuit at the Rome meet on June 6, 2025, marking his first appearance and victory in a Diamond League 100 m final after a three-year absence from the DL.

The 29-year-old re-entered the scene in May with a jaw-dropping 9.91. And then? He dropped a 9.84 in Rome. Let that sink in, his fastest legal time in over three years. Just like that, the rankings began to shift, and the whispers grew louder: Could Bromell be the biggest threat to Simbine’s crown? Well, for now, it seems that he has come near Akani’s ranking.

Let’s look at the scoreboard. Right now, Akani Simbine sits comfortably atop the Diamond League standings with 24 points. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala trail close behind with 20 each. Fourth is 2022 world champion Fred Kerley of the United States with 10 points, just ahead of fellow Americans Brandon Hicklin and Christian Coleman, each with 9 points. Bromell?

Man on

Akani Simbine still leads the standing the men's 100m on the #RoadToTheFinal.

Trayvon Bromell also now enters the frame after a dominant victory in Rome!#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/BMS3B8RUQ5

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 10, 2025

He’s 7th… with 8 points, but don’t be fooled. With only three races under his belt in 2025 and still posting lightning-fast times, he’s rising faster than anyone else on the board. Still not convinced? In Rome, Bromell left a world-class field gasping. Eseme? 0.15 seconds behind. Omanyala? 10.01. Even the 2022 world champ Fred Kerley faded hard, clocking just 10.06.

Bromell was gone with the gun and never looked back. So what does this all mean for Simbine? Well, the World Championships are just 2 months away, and this rivalry is everything. Simbine has the consistency, the calm, and the experience. But Bromell has that raw fire, the kind that can flip a final in less than 10 seconds.

It’s the kind of clash fans dream about, two elite sprinters on a collision course, both with something to prove. And here’s the real hook: who wins? The steady lion of Africa, finally stepping into his destiny? Or the American comeback kid, storming back to reclaim his throne? Well, let’s look at the past victories.

Akani Simbine brings consistency, while Bromell brings the comeback

Let’s talk about two sprint stars who’ve both been making serious noise on the track, Akani Simbine and Trayvon Bromell. Simbine, now 31, has quietly built one of the most consistent sprinting careers ever. He ran a blistering 9.82 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympics, not only a personal best but also a new South African national record.

And he’s the first sprinter in history to clock sub-10 seconds in the 100 m for 11 straight seasons, breaking even Usain Bolt’s record. That’s some serious staying power. While he’s had his fair share of near-misses,  fourth and fifth-place finishes at Worlds (2017, 2019, 2022) and the Olympics (Rio, Tokyo, Paris)—Simbine finally got his first individual global medal with a bronze in the 60 m at the 2025 World Indoors in Nanjing.

He also anchored South Africa to silver in the 4×100 m relay in Paris and has Commonwealth and African Games gold from 2018. Trayvon Bromell is another American sprinter who has always been known for his amazing speed in the sport. Being able to compete in the 100-meter race at 9.76 seconds, he is the sixth-fastest man recorded.

He was in the news since 2014 when he became the first U20 sprinter to break the 10-second barrier, running 9.97. Later on, he brought home bronze from the World Championships in 2015 and 2022, won the 60 m event at the 2016 World Indoors, and received the Diamond League prize in 2022. Bromell’s journey hasn’t been smooth, though.

A brutal Achilles injury during Rio 2016 nearly derailed his career, and he even missed the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. But in true comeback fashion, he’s back on fire in 2025, dropping a season-best 9.84 seconds in Rome, the fastest legal time in the world this year. That’s how you make a statement. Well, Akani Simbine vs. Trayvon Bromell will be worth watching!!

The post Akani Simbine Faces New Challenge as American Star Charts Rankings After 3-Year Return appeared first on EssentiallySports.