PH
In one of the most phenomenal performances ever seen on an athletics track, Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa broke Michael Johnson’s 400m world record which had stood since August 1999.
The 24-year-old, who is coached by his 74-year-old great grandmother Ans Botha, came from lane eight to cross the line in 43.03sec, obliterating Johnson’s best of 43.18.
The old world record, set in August 1999, had been considered one of the toughest in track and field. But Van Niekerk began accelerating clear round the second bend and lowered his previous best by almost half a second to smash through it.
‘I’ve never seen anything like that from 200m to 400m,’ said Johnson, ‘That was a massacre. He just put those guys away. LaShawn Merritt was shaking his head, thinking “I can’t do anything with that”.’
‘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 new star of our sport.’
