Niekerk not only won gold, but beat a 17-year-old world record by 0.15 seconds. Van Niekerk’s 43.03 was more than seven-tenths of a second quicker than the man in second, defending Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada, who had to settle for silver in 43.76.
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But Van Niekerk, 24, muscled into Bolt’s limelight after smashing the world record in dominant fashion, less than 30 minutes before the 100m final – and the Jamaican was happy to share centre stage with him.
“I’m a sucker on two 44s”. This year I was hoping I was in good shape and my coach told me they were going to put on a 300m.
“I am still trying to better myself each and every time I have the opportunity to race”.
“I knew it was going to be fast but I didn’t think it was going to be 43.00-fast”.
“You are never too old to learn”, Anna told IAAF about her coaching practices, adding: “I dearly love all my athletes but it’s about being strict”.
“I’m just really grateful that I’m part of this generation of athletics, just keeping the sport alive”, he said. “She’s played a huge role in where I am today”.
When van Niekerk won the 400m race, Bolt interrupted his own TV interview and went over to congratulate him.
“I believed in myself as an athlete and my abilities, but tonight God showed how important he’s been in my life”, he said.
Van Niekerk grabbed Botha’s attention when he was a schoolboy and the pair joined forces in 2012, she said it was such a “big responsibility” getting the Olympian to develop to his full potential.
The 100m gold medallist Donovan Bailey and the 200 and 400m victor Michael Johnson raced over 150m in the 1996 Olympics to determine who was fastest.
He is also the first sprinter to win an Olympic 400m title from lane eight. But I got a medal, I’ll take it, get my day’s rest and get ready for heats of the 200m. It was the first 400m race in history that featured three runners under 44 seconds.
On any other night, Van Niekerk would’ve drawn all the headlines.
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“My coach always wants me to run 400m”, said Bolt, who has often complained at how hard the training for the 400m was.
