South African sets world record, wins gold in 400m

The ASSOCIATED PRESS

8 years ago

South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk pauses after winning the gold in the men’s 400-meter final during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa has won the Olympic 400-meter title in a world record 43.03 seconds. Van Niekerk, running in the outside lane, stormed out of the blocks and held off of 2012 champion Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt. He lowered the mark of 43.18 that Michael Johnson set in Seville, Spain, in 1999.