South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk broke Michael Johnson’s 400m world record to sensationally win Olympic gold at Rio 2016.

A world record was set in the men’s 400m finals as South African Wayde van Niekerk finished in a time of 43.03 from the outside lane.

Van Niekerk crossed the finish line ahead of 2012 London Games gold medalist Kirani James of Grenada who took silver and LaShawn Merritt of the U.S. won bronze.

Van Niekerk, who won South Africa’s first gold medal of the Games, said:

I have dreamed of this since I was a kid. I believed it was possible. I am just glad things went my way. I thank Michael Johnson for setting such a great example for us. I just did my best.”

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