MANCHESTER, England :South African Akani Simbine has stood on the cusp of medals glory more times than most sprinters ever will, finishing inside the top five in the 100 metres in the last four major championships.

He has always been just shy of the podium, however, and with each near miss, the chorus of critics has grown louder.

But the 31-year-old, who will race the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships that open on Saturday in Tokyo, refuses to be defined by the "nearly man" label.

Africa's fastest man is writing a different story - one that defies the narrow lens of medals and embraces a broader legacy.

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