Way-de to go at the double

HEIR apparent to the sprinting throne Wayde van Niekerk has given his dreams flight as he looks to become only the second man to win the 200m/400m double at a major championship.

Constantly breaking new ground, Van Niekerk has revealed he would be racing both distances at the IAAF World Championships in London later this year.

Soon after winning the Olympic 400m gold medal in world record-breaking time, Van Niekerk suggested he would be doing the double this year.

Speaking to Eye Witness News sports editor Jean Smyth, Van Niekerk said he had asked the IAAF for a programme change to accommodate him in his pursuit of 200m and 400m glory. “I’m definitely doing the 200 and 400. I’ve set it in my heart already and I’ve decided that I’m doing the ‘two’ and ‘four’,” Van Niekerk told Smyth.

“I really feel like I’ve achieved so much in the 400 and I want to bring an extra aspect into my athletics journey and I feel like this year I want to try both. So whether the programme changes or not, I want to give it a go.”

Van Niekerk will be going into the World Championships as the defending champion in the one-lap sprint which his his manager Peet van Zyl said would remain his top priority.

“It will all depend on how his season progresses, racing both the 200 and 400 distances on the international circuit, including a few Diamond League meetings,” Van Zyl said.

At last year’s Rio Games, Van Niekerk shattered iconic American sprinter Michael Johnson’s previous record from 1999 by 0.15s when he crossed the line in 43.03s. Johnson became the first man to win the 200m/400m double at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg before repeating that feat at the 1996 Atlanta Games.