Bolt comparisons a 'privilege' – Dambile

Commonwealth 200m champion Sinesipho Dambile says it is a “privilege” to be compared with Jamaican great Usain Bolt as he looks to establish himself among the world’s leading sprinters.

The South African has enjoyed a breakthrough season, producing a string of impressive performances and underlining his credentials as one of Africa’s emerging track stars.

Speaking to the Warm Up Track podcast, the 24-year-old revealed that he “enjoys the pressure” that comes with being mentioned alongside the fastest man in history.

“Pressure is a privilege,” he said. “I love it because that’s where I excel.”

Dambile recalls meeting the eight-time Olympic champion at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the Jamaican offered him some advice.

“For Bolt, charisma naturally goes to him. Being able to meet him in person last year in Tokyo, he said: ‘Please make sure you enjoy this thing’.

“That, until this day, still stuck with me.”

Victory at last year’s South African national championships secured Dambile’s place in Tokyo, where he finished eighth in the 200m final, having set a new personal best of 19.97 seconds in the semi-finals.

That time was smashed this season as Dambile accelerated his development.

June’s Diamond League meeting in Doha saw him clock 19.74 seconds – the fourth-fastest time recorded by any athlete in 2026.

He went on to finish second behind the USA’s Kenny Bednarek, but ahead of Botswana’s 2024 Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, in last month’s Diamond League final in Brussels, while he was fourth in the inaugural Ultimate Championships.

However, the year’s high point was undoubtedly the Commonwealth gold medal won in Birmingham in July, a result which made him the first South African to win the event.

While it is clear the 200m remains Dambile’s principal event, he is “mentally willing to put in the work” to mimic Bolt, who likewise began his career specialising in the longer distance before going on to also dominate the 100m.

“He (Bolt) paved the way,” Dambile said.

“I spoke to my team a couple of times and I was like, ‘I want you guys to count me in on the 100m’.

“I want to do both. I know I’m going to be successful.”

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Akani Simbine’s mentor role

A relaxed character, Dambile insists he will follow Bolt’s advice to enjoy his time on the track, promising that fans will “get more of my personality” in future.

“I’ve never been a loud person, trying to bring attention to me,” he said, contrasting his approach to the brash showmanship of Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles.

“I’m always smiling out there, I’m always looking at the crowd, looking at the kids, and that’s just me.

“I just want to go out there and do my thing, to make sure that everybody enjoys the show.”

Dambile’s success has coincided with a growing sense of belief within South African sprinting.

He was part of the quartet which won 4x100m gold at the World Relays in Guangzhou last year, running alongside team-mates Bayanda Walaza, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine.

“We go as a squad, so we have that little bit of energy,” Dambile said when explaining how the group’s camaraderie has played an important role in their success.

“We pump each other up because we’re going for the one thing – doing it for our country.

“The biggest sport in our country is rugby, so you get the Springboks going there winning the World Cup and we wanted to have the same feeling.”

The influence of the experienced Simbine has been crucial.

The 2018 Commonwealth 100m champion finally landed an Olympic medal at Paris 2024, picking up silver in the 4x100m relay, having agonisingly finished fourth in the individual 100m finals in both the French capital and at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

“He’s made all the finals. He’s been there. He’s been the guy. He’s been one of the best sprinters in the world,” said Dambile.

“So when someone like that from home can do it, we also start to believe that it’s actually possible to do it.”

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‘I want to be the best’

Just like Simbine, Dambile is a product of the TuksSport team at the University of Pretoria, a breeding ground for South Africa’s top talent, including fellow sprinter Gift Leotlela, who finished fourth in the 100m final at this year’s Commonwealth Games, and 2025 world indoor 800m champion Prudence Sekgodiso.

“We all were scouted through different processes and we all ended up at the same school,” said Dambile.

“Best place to train in as a sprinter.”

All four Pretoria alumni competed in Birmingham this year, but only Dambile came away with a Commonwealth medal.

“It was so much relief because what I did was not just a small thing,” he explained.

“It was huge, especially for myself [and] the country of South Africa. My emotions were all over the place.

“I just pushed through everything and when I was in that moment, I knew I deserved it because of the amount of work I’ve put in.”

A double medallist at the 2021 Under-20 World Championships in Nairobi, Dambile’s progression from promising junior to established senior athlete has not, however, been straightforward, with injury curtailing much of his 2024 season.

This year’s success has changed things.

“It’s easier to recognise me in the country now with me winning the Commonwealth,” he explained.

“A bit of fame now – you can see people when they talk about you. It’s like I’ve been experiencing beautiful things happening.”

Things could get even better with plans already being made for next year’s World Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We’ve already set up a map towards that,” he said.

“We definitely know how important it’s going to be over the next two years.

“I want to be the best 200m athlete the sport has ever seen.

“I need to make sure that I have the World Championship [and] Olympic title. I want to do things that have never been done in my country.”