By The Arusha News Correspondent
From the Arusha Airport to the heart of the city, residents waved flags, danced and sang the name of the man who made history, the nation’s first-ever World Championships gold medalist. The celebrations reached peak point at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, where traditional dances, chants and ululations filled the air until late afternoon.
Simbu’s return to Arusha followed a national welcome event in Dar es Salaam, where government leaders and sports officials honoured him for his groundbreaking victory. His win in Tokyo has been described as a turning point in Tanzania’s athletics, igniting fresh hopes for global glory and more victories.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan herself led the tributes, awarding Simbu a brand-new home in the capital city, Dodoma and a cheque for Shillings 20 million. “You have lifted our nation’s spirit and inspired millions,” she said, praising him for carrying Tanzania’s flag to the very top of the world.
Adding to her accolades, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Jacob John Mkunda, promoted Simbu from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant in recognition of his service and discipline, blending national pride with military honour. The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) has awarded the runner shillings 10 million.
The 33-year-old runner-cum-soldier stunned the world earlier this month in Tokyo with a heart-stopping marathon finish — surging ahead of Germany’s Amanal Petros by a mere 0.03 seconds, crossing the line in 2:09:48. It was a finish that shall forever be etched in the history books of global athletics. Staff Sergeant Simbu also carried home over $60,000 in prize money.
Speaking in Arusha, an emotional yet composed Simbu shared the secret of his triumph: Discipline, determination and unshakable faith.
“I trained hard at high altitude, trusted my coaches and believed in God until the very end. Even in the last kilometre, when my legs felt heavy, I reminded myself that I was running for my country – Tanzania – which gave me the strength to forget my pain,” he said.
But for Simbu, that was only the beginning. “This medal is not the end,” he told cheering fans. “I want to test myself in the New York Marathon next month and prepare for the next Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, the United States. My dream is to keep making Tanzania proud,” he said.
As the sun dipped over Arusha, one thing was clear: Simbu’s golden stride had not only secured victory on the world stage but also ignited the nation’s spirit, placing Tanzania firmly on the global athletics map and stamping further East Africa’s dominance in distance running.
