Smashing barriers just a Wayde thing
Van Niekerk sends out major warning to one-lap rivals as London looms large.
Though he has displayed spectacular form over shorter distances this season, Wayde van Niekerk says he is still hungry to go faster in the 400m sprint, as he threatens to give the sub-43 second barrier another shake.
Turning out in his first topflight 400m race of the year, Van Niekerk coasted to victory in 43.62 at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on Thursday evening, bettering Michael Johnson’s 21-year-old meeting record.
After setting a national 200m record of 19.84 last month, Van Niekerk fired a stern warning at his opponents with his latest onelap performance, settling in first place in both events in the world rankings ahead of his attempt at a long-sprint double at the World Championships in London next month.
“I do have a love-hate relationship with the 400m. However, I try to always approach it with a positive mindset, not setting myself any limits,” Van Niekerk said.
“And the performances keep coming along, which keeps me passionate about what I do. I need that passion to constantly seek improvements.
“Finishing a 400m is always painful, but this time around I am actually pleasantly surprised about how I digested the lactic acid.”
With a 300m world best already under his belt this year, after clocking 30.81 in Ostrava last week, Van Niekerk was being tipped to break his own 400m world record of 43.03 at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21, which would be his last race before the global championships.
The versatile speedster, also ranked sixth in the world this season over 100m (9.94), hinted his one-lap mark would be in danger, as he looked to make another statement in the build-up to the biennial spectacle in the English capital.
“I will have one more competition before London,” Van Niekerk confirmed.