• Wayde van Niekerk breaks world record to win 400m gold in Rio
Monday, 15 August 2016
South African Wayde van Niekerk won the Olympic games gold medal and shattered Michael Johnson's 400m world record on Sunday in Rio.
Van Niekerk, the 2015 world champion, running in outside lane clocked 43.03 seconds to beat 17-year-old Michael Johnson's 400m world record by 0.15 seconds.
"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 told reporters after the race.
Silver Medal took defending champion Kirani James of Grenada, who clocked 43.76 seconds with USA's LaShawn Merritt in third in 43.85 seconds.
Results
| POS | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayde VAN NIEKERK |  RSA |
43.03 | WR |
| 2 | Kirani JAMES |  GRN |
43.76 | SB |
| 3 | LaShawn MERRITT |  USA |
43.85 | SB |
| 4 | Machel CEDENIO |  TTO |
44.01 | NR |
| 5 | Karabo SIBANDA |  BOT |
44.25 | PB |
| 6 | Ali Khamis KHAMIS |  BRN |
44.36 | NR |
| 7 | Bralon TAPLIN | GRN |
44.45 | |
| 8 | Matthew HUDSON-SMITH |  GBR |
44.61 |