Rio Olympics 2016: Wayde
van Niekerk breaks world record to win Olympic gold
Wayde van Niekerk wins 400m gold in new world record time
South Africa's
Wayde van Niekerk broke Michael Johnson's 17-year-old 400m world record to
sensationally win Olympic gold at Rio 2016.
The 24-year-old
finished in 43.03 seconds, 0.15 quicker than the time Johnson clocked in
Seville in 1999.
Grenada's Kirani
James, the London 2012 champion, finished 0.73 behind to take the silver medal,
with American LaShawn Merritt in bronze.
"It was a
massacre," said Johnson, who won two Olympic 400m titles.
"Van Niekerk
is so young, what else can he do? Can he go under 43 seconds? It is something I
thought I could do, but never did.
"Usain Bolt
will be retiring soon, this could be the next star."
Michael Johnson's world record of 43.18 had stood for 6,198 days
Van Niekerk, who
won South Africa's first gold medal of the Games, said: "I have dreamed of
this since I was a kid.
Breakthru South Africa: Telling our
success story.
"I believed it
was possible. I am just glad things went my way. I thank Michael Johnson for
setting such a great example for us. I just did my best."
Van Niekerk's
earlier runs in Rio gave little indication of what was to come.
He beat James and
Merritt at the World Championships in Beijing last year, with all three going
under 44 seconds, but qualified fifth fastest for the final.
James set off fast
at the start of the race, but Van Niekerk, in lane eight, powered around the
final bend to beat his previous personal best by 0.45.
Not only was it his
first Olympic medal, he also became the first man to win an Olympic 400m title
from lane eight.
Van Niekerk was
still trackside doing interviews when Usain
Bolt won 100m gold for the third straight Games half an
hour later.
Wayde van Niekerk: Who is South Africa's 400m Olympic champion?
Bolt interrupted his
own victory celebration to seek out the South African, who spent time in
Jamaica working with Bolt and his coach, Glen Mills.
"He's very
fast and keeps on going," said Bolt, who claimed he had predicted Van
Niekerk would break the world record. "I wasn't really surprised he got
it.''
Silver medallist
James added: "I'm happy to be part of a race that made history. We have
put this sport on a pedestal."
Great Britain's
Matthew Hudson-Smith, who finished last in 44.61, said: "It was just
mental how quick that was."
|
Men's
400m world record progression since 1968:
|
|||
|
Time
(seconds)
|
Athlete
|
Year
|
City
|
|
43.86
|
Lee
Evans (USA)
|
1968
|
Mexico
City
|
|
43.29
|
Butch
Reynolds (USA)
|
1988
|
Zurich
|
|
43.18
|
Michael
Johnson (USA)
|
1999
|
Seville
|
|
43.03
|
Wayde
van Niekerk
|
2016
|
Rio
de Janeiro
|
The making of a
champion
Van Niekerk is
trained by Ans Botha, a 74-year-old great-grandmother who has been coaching
track and field since the 1960s.
They have been
working together for the past three years, during which Van Niekerk has become
world and now Olympic champion.
Earlier this year, he ran
9.98 seconds for the 100m to become the first
athlete to run under 10 seconds for the 100m, 20 seconds for the 200m and 44
seconds for 400m.
Van Niekerk is also
a huge Liverpool fan and prepared for Sunday's final by watching them beat Arsenal 4-3 in the Premier League.
"I was losing
my mind because it was quite a tight match," he said.
"My brother's
an Arsenal fan. Now I've got the world record and Liverpool beat Arsenal. I've
got a lot to brag about."
Van Niekerk is not
the only member of his family to win a medal in Rio. His cousin, Cheslin Kolbe,
won bronze with South Africa's sevens rugby team.
Analysis
Former 400m world record holder
Michael Johnson: "Oh my God!
From lane eight, a world record. He took it out so quick. "I have never
seen anything from 200 to 400 like that. That was a massacre from Wayde van
Niekerk. He just put those guys away."
Former British sprinter Darren
Campbell: "You know
something special is happening when Kirani James is five metres behind and
LaShawn Merritt is right there with him. Monday's headlines should all be about
Usain Bolt winning the 100m, but how can it not be Wayde van Niekerk beating
the great Michael Johnson's 400m world record?"
Reaction
British sprinter Nigel Levine: "Can't believe I just saw a human being run 43.03 seconds
for a 400m."
British 400m runner and
two-time Olympian Martyn Rooney: "43.03... Wow... He said he
wanted to go 42 and nobody believed him... Wow! Congrats"
British sprinter Richard Kilty: "That was one of the best sporting performances in history
@WaydeDreamer new world record 43.03 wow!"
Derek Redmond on Twitter: "43:03 holy moly Van Niekerk"
British sprinter Adam Gemili: "Wooooooow. He nearly ran 42. World record.
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