Update: Van Niekerk breaks 400m world record
Wayde van Niekerk produced the best performance by a South African athlete in half a century in the early hours of Monday morning.
Starting in lane eight, Van Niekerk charged out the blocks and held the lead from start to finish in the men’s 400m final at the Rio Olympics, shattering the world record to secure the gold medal in 43.03 seconds.
World record! Wayde van Niekerk takes the men's 400m gold medal in 43.03 seconds. Fantastic! #Rio2016 #WB
— Wesley Botton (@wesbotton) August 15, 2016
The 24-year-old speedster, who won the world title last year, chopped 0.15 off the 17-year-old global mark previously held by American star Michael Johnson.
Defending champion Kirani James of Grenada took second place in 43.76, and Beijing 2008 champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States ended third in 43.85.
“I was so scared someone was going to catch me I just kept pushing and pushing, and at the end I just dove for the line,” Van Niekerk said.
While James had lined up as the favourite, after dominating the earlier rounds, he was unable to put up a fight against the South African.
“He just kept going and going, and never slowed down, but I’m proud of Wayde’s accomplishment and so proud to be a part of history,” James said.
Van Niekerk became the first SA athlete to set a world record in an Olympic track event since Paul Nash clocked 10.0 in the men’s 100m dash in 1968.
While Danie Malan set a global mark in the men’s 1 000m contest in 1973, the race is not an Olympic event.
Van Niekerk chops 0.15 off the 17-year-old global 400m mark held by American legend Michael Johnson. That was incredible #Rio2016 #WB
— Wesley Botton (@wesbotton) August 15, 2016
Shortly after the 400m dash, Van Niekerk waited at the side of the track to watch good friend Akani Simbine in the men’s 100m final.
Simbine produced an impressive performance, taking fifth place in 9.94, with Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt earning his third straight title in the short dash in 9.81.
Bolt, who trained with the duo in Kingston earlier this year, had given Simbine a hug while the SA record holder was waiting to see if he had progressed beyond the 100m semifinals, and also went up to Van Niekerk to congratulate him after his record performance.
Usain Bolt gives Akani Simbine a hug as he walks off after winning his heat. They trained together earlier this year #Rio2016 #WB
— Wesley Botton (@wesbotton) August 15, 2016
Well done @WaydeDreamer – words cannot fully express the courage you showed tonight.#Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/tJORmWVszY
— Team Lusapho (@teamlusapho) August 15, 2016
We should be talking more about this amazing woman! @wesbotton @David_Isaacson https://t.co/1GoM5N3a88
— Linda Ferns (@Lindaferns) August 15, 2016
Initial story: 6am on August 15, 2016:
Starting in lane eight, Van Niekerk charged out the blocks and held the lead from start to finish in the men’s 400m final at the Rio Olympics, shattering the world record to secure the gold medal in 43.03 seconds, The Citizen reports.
The 24-year-old speedster, who won the global title last year, chopped 0.15 off the 17-year-old global mark held by American star Michael Johnson.
Defending champion Kirani James of Grenada took second place in 43.76.
“I was so scared someone was going to catch me I just kept pushing and pushing, and at the end I just dove for the line,” Van Niekerk said.
He became the first SA athlete to set a world record in an Olympic track event since Paul Nash clocked 10.0 in the men’s 100m dash in 1968.
While Danie Malan set a global mark in the men’s 1 000m contest in 1973, the race is not an Olympic event.
Van Niekerk earned South Africa’s seventh medal, and first gold, at the Rio Games.
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
