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South Africa’s sprint king Akani Simbine has declared himself ready for the biggest weekend of his career at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Since turning professional in 2012, Simbine has yet to win an individual outdoor medal at a major international championship, and he is determined to change that.
Speaking to SABC Sport in Tokyo, the three-time World Championships finalist said he is prepared for the challenge in the men’s 100m heats on Saturday and progressing to the semi-finals and final on Sunday.
"Preparations have been going well. I think this year has been a very different year for us, but everything has been going according to plan and the body is feeling good, I'm feeling good," said Simbine.
"I'm feeling confident going into this weekend, so I'm looking forward to it and, yeah. Everything is good, we're good, the camp is good, so yeah."
The Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist and World Indoor 60m bronze medallist told the national broadcaster that he and his coaching team carefully mapped out this season to ensure he peaks at the right time.
"I think, for me and my group, it was actually planned for me to be in a big training block in June and July because of the fact that we did Indoors, which made us miss a very important block in our training and that's a heavy running block," he explained.
"So when we were racing, yes we were racing on heavy legs and on a heavy load of training, but the plan was not to race fast in July and August as usual, it's a different year and we had to plan for that.
"We had to plan for us to be able to miss a block, but then catch it up again somewhere so that I'm able to be as fast and as strong enough when I get to World Championships, and that's where we're at right now.
"So we went into races knowing where we're at, and knowing the plan, and it was just for me to keep on trusting the programme and trusting Coach, and making sure that I'm not letting two or three races that I have affect the end plan.
"Because, at the same time, I'm a much older athlete, I cannot just show up and run fast all the time, and that's the big thing that I've come to realise – everything has to go according to plan and I need to realise my body has to go through recovery processes as well."
