Games history

Olympics day in history: Akani Simbine just misses a medal in the 100m final in Tokyo

Today in Olympic history: August 1

31 July 2024 - 21:51
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Akani Simbine poses for a photo after winning in the Men's 100 Metre's Final during the Bislett Games, part of the 2024 Diamond League at Bislett Stadium on May 30, 2024 in Oslo, Norway.
Akani Simbine poses for a photo after winning in the Men's 100 Metre's Final during the Bislett Games, part of the 2024 Diamond League at Bislett Stadium on May 30, 2024 in Oslo, Norway.
Image: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

1928 — Sidney Atkinson, runner-up four years earlier, wins the 110m hurdles gold at the Amsterdam Olympics with fellow South African George Weightman-Smith ending fifth. Weightman-Smith — 21st in his second event, the javelin throw — took the lead briefly early in the race, but Atkinson delivered the best kick to clinch the win ahead of Americans Steve Anderson and John Collier. Atkinson remains the only South African to have upgraded a podium position from one Games to the next. In the wrestling arena, middleweight Anton Praeg ended joint fourth in the freestyle competition, with both he and American Ralph Hammonds unable to contest the fight-offs for the bronze medal.

2012— Eight women badminton players are disqualified from the London Olympics for trying to lose and manipulate the draw. Four doubles pairs from China, South Korea and Indonesia were thrown out, including Chinese world champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang. 

2021 — Akani Simbine ends fourth in the 100m final at the Tokyo Olympics, a painful result that saw him wanting to quit the sport until he regained his mojo.

All the latest Paris Games coverage on TimesLIVE’s Olympics 2024 page.

All the Team SA results here.

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