Flying start to be next Bolt

EVERYONE wants him to be the next Bolt and Wayde van Niekerk is at least following a crucial part of that script – winning gold medals.

Since breaking the 400m record at last year’s Rio Olympics, the South African has been anointed as the man most likely to take over the mantle from the retiring Usain Bolt as the next big thing of track and field. Van Niekerk’s second world title was never in doubt and he even eased down on the line to claim gold in 43.98sec.

Van Niekerk is attempting to win the 400m/ 200m double, which hasn’t been done at a world championships since American legend Michael Johnson in Gothenberg in 1995.