The Olympian who bagged this historic gold medal last night is South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk. He was wrong about that, very wrong.
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Wayde van Niekerk made history when he broke the world record in the 400m Olympics final at Rio 2016, and he has one person in particular to thank – his 74-year-old coach Anna Botha.
Just minutes before Bolt’s third 100m gold in a modest 9.81 seconds, the South African erased mighty Michael Johnson out of the list of current world record holders with a sprint to gold in a staggering 43.03 seconds.
He beat James and Merritt at the World Championships in Beijing a year ago, with all three going under 44 seconds, but qualified fifth fastest for the final in Rio.
“I felt very alone at the end. I told you guys I was going to do it”.
Van Niekerk played down being drawn in the outside lane, saying there were pros and cons.
“It is something I thought I could do, but never did”. I dove for the finish line.
After it became clear that he’s a Liverpool fan, he received much attention from the town and the English Premier League club itself.
Van Niekerk brushed off an initial question about doping but was pushed further on the subject.
James claimed the silver in 43.76 and Merritt took the bronze with 43.85 in a race where four of the top six finishers set personal bests. “There’s no way I’m going to limit myself, I’m just going to try and better myself each and every time I race”, said the South African. “I knew the time was going to be fast, [but] I didn’t think it was going to be 43.0 fast”.
“From lane 8. World record”.
The American great ran the distance in 43.18 seconds all the way back in 1999, and only three men had got within half a second since.
Everyone loves Bolt, but his football team always clouded him ever so slightly – but thankfully van Niekerk has his head screwed on!
Free State Premier Ace Magashule also congratulated Van Niekerk – who studied Marketing at the University of the Free State – on his win. Seriously, a great grandmother. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and that they were here live to witness it today”.
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk believes the “sky is the limit” after obliterating the 400 metres world record on the way to Olympic gold. “You take it”, said Merritt.
“He told me back in Jamaica that ‘you will break the world record.’ And he came to me after (tonight) and said ‘I told you you can do it'”.
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“I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I won”, he said.
