Rio de Janeiro - Wayde van Niekerk stunned the world to take South Africa’s first gold medal of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games early this morning.
Van Niekerk, running from the unfancied lane eight, never looked back, as he broke Michael Johnson’s 17 year-old 400m record, dipping in at 43.03 seconds.
“I don’t remember a thing!,” he exclaimed to the world’s media.
Van Niekerk’s roommate, Akani Simbine, finished fifth in a stellar cast of the men’s 100m final, which saw Usain Bolt scorch to a third straight title. But it was all about Van Niekerk, as even Bolt cut short his interview to congratulate the South African.
“I’d love to run the 300 against him next year,” Bolt revealed.
“I told him he could do it. My coach said aside from me, he was the only one who could break that world record. I’m proud of him,” the great sprinter added.
Van Niekerk helped Team South Africa rise to seven medals, adding to the silver medals of Chad Le Clos (two), Cameron van der Burgh, Luvo Manyonga, Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling, and the bronze from Sevens rugby side.
It ensured that Rio 2016 is South Africa’s greatest haul of medals since readmission, on a night that the team’s flag bearer became the standard bearer.
Meanwhile Britain’s Andy Murray beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5 in a compelling and gruelling Olympic tennis final to become the first player to successfully defend the title. World number two Murray deployed a precision defensive game which eventually wore down the towering Argentine’s barreling forehand and powerful service game. Murray racked up his 18th successive singles win, a hot streak that also brought him a second Wimbledon title.