Rio de Janeiro – A first Rio 2016 gold medal for South Africa could be just a few hours away as Wayde van Niekerk fans will not doubt be wide-eyed in the dead of night to see their idol clinch that moment of magic.
Van Niekerk, Lashawn Merritt and Kirani James produced one of the races of the year in the 400m final at the 2015 World Championships. The trio all finished within 44 seconds as they placed 1-2-3 in the fastest one-lap race of all time.
Sunday’s Olympic final (Monday 3am, SA time) should be just as electric. Merritt, the 2008 champion, is fastest this year with 43.97. James, the 2012 champion, is second fastest with 44.02. Van Niekerk, the world champion, is third fastest with 44.11.
They are three athletes with incredible pace and championship pedigree. If medals go to any other athletes it will be a shock, although Van Niekerk’s time in the semifinals was slower than Machel Cedenio and Bralon Taplin.
It is a race that contains the ingredients for another special final.
African News Agency