South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk made history Sunday night, shattering a 17-year-old world record in the 400 meters by running 43.03. American Michael Johnson held the previous mark of 43.18, set in 1999.
The gold medalist from 2012, Grenada’s Kirani James, won silver with a 43.76, followed by American LaShawn Merritt, who earned a bronze with a 43.85. It was the first time in Olympic history that three men ran under 44 seconds in a 400-meter race.
Van Niekerk, appearing in his first Olympics, is the first South African to win gold in the event in 96 years. Though the performance puts him in the history books, van Niekerk had previously become the only person to ever run under 10 seconds in the 100, under 20 seconds in the 200, and under 44 seconds in the 400, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The 24-year-old ran his world record Sunday from the eighth lane, defeating his opponents by a stunning margin.
World 400m Record Shattered By South Africa"s Niekerk
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