Sports · Running & Athletics · 6 hrs ago
Commonwealth 200m champion Dambile calls Bolt comparisons a privilege
South African sprinter Sinesipho Dambile welcomes comparisons with Usain Bolt as he seeks to become one of the world's leading sprinters.
The 24-year-old says the pressure is a privilege and recalls Bolt advising him to enjoy competing when they met in Tokyo in 2025.
Dambile won the Commonwealth 200m title in Birmingham in July, becoming the first South African to win the event.
He ran 19.74 seconds in Doha in June, then finished second at the Diamond League final in Brussels.
He wants to compete in both the 100m and 200m, following a path similar to Bolt, who also began with the longer distance.
His progress adds to growing confidence in South African sprinting, where he is part of a relay team that won 4x100m gold at the World Relays.
Commonwealth 200m champion Sinesipho Dambile says comparisons with Usain Bolt are a privilege.
The South African sprinter says he enjoys the pressure and wants to compete in both the 100m and 200m.
Dambile won 200m gold in Birmingham in July, becoming the first South African to win the event.
He ran 19.74 seconds in Doha in June, the fourth-fastest time recorded by any athlete in 2026.
Dambile says advice from Bolt to enjoy competing has stayed with him since they met in Tokyo in 2025.
- Who
- Sinesipho Dambile, South Africa’s Commonwealth 200m champion.
- What
- He called comparisons with Usain Bolt a privilege and said he wants to compete in both the 100m and 200m.
- When
- He spoke to the Warm Up Track podcast; the article was published on 14 October 2026.
- Where
- Dambile is from South Africa. He won Commonwealth 200m gold in Birmingham.
- Why
- He says he enjoys the pressure of the comparisons and wants to establish himself among the world’s leading sprinters.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dambile met Usain Bolt at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and received advice to enjoy competing.
Dambile ran 19.74 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Doha.
Dambile won Commonwealth 200m gold in Birmingham, becoming the first South African to win the event.
Dambile finished second behind Kenny Bednarek at the Diamond League final in Brussels.
- Doha time
- 19.74 seconds
- Commonwealth gold
- Birmingham, July
- Tokyo result
- Eighth in the 200m final; ran 19.97 seconds in the semi-finals
- Diamond League final
- Second in Brussels, behind Kenny Bednarek
- National team
- Part of South Africa’s 4x100m gold-medal quartet at the World Relays in Guangzhou last year
What people are saying
Pressure is a privilege
I love it because that's where I excel.
I want to do both. I know I'm going to be successful.
Please make sure you enjoy this thing