Wayde van Niekerk sets record across four distances
:focal(140x151:142x149)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/04/28/2811917-58003384-310-310.png)
Published 29/06/2017 at 08:17 GMT
South Africa sprinter Wayde van Niekerk broke the 300m world record at the Ostrava Golden Spike on Wednesday and in the process created his own piece of history.
Wayde Van Niekerk à Ostrava
Image credit: Getty Images
Van Niekerk ran the rarely run distance in a time of 30.81 seconds which beats Michael Johnson's record of 30.85s from 2000.
It also means that Van Niekerk, who won gold in the 400m in the Rio Olympics last year again breaking Johnson's record, is now the first person to below 10s in the 100m, below 20s in the 200m, below 31s in the 300m and below 44s in the 400m.
"I have been improving in each and every one of my events so it is a great step for the year and I am feeling quite confident for the rest of the year," the sprinter told Czech Television after the race.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/06/29/2117474-44306690-2560-1440.jpg)
Usain Bolt of Jamaica (R) chats with Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa during a training session in Kingston, on June 8, 2017. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt said he is looking forward to having a party as he launches his final season on June 10 with what w
Image credit: Getty Images
"I was ready to dig deep and just get used to the feeling of the longer events. I am pleased with today."
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/06/29/2117472-44306650-2560-1440.jpg)
Athletics - Golden Spike Meeting - Ostrava, Czech Republic - June 28, 2017- South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk in action
Image credit: Reuters
Van Niekerk is expected to run the 200m and 400m at the upcoming World Championships which will be held in London in August.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement