7 Most Anticipated Showdowns at Rio 2016 Olympics!

3. Wayde Van Niekerk Vs LaShawn Merritt & Kirani James

Battle of the quarter-mile! Last year we wrote a similar story as to who would emerge tops in the men’s 400m. The story featured these three: Wayde Van Niekerk, Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt.

We also gave honourable mentions to athletes like former African 400m record holder, Isaac Makwala as likely contenders for the title. However, barring any shock win, we think the 400m will be won by Niekerk, Merritt or James.

It is going to be tough call as any  of the trio can win it, considering how the 2015 World Championships panned out.

Not much was known about Niekerk prior to the World Champs in Beijing, although he had shown glimpses of what to expect when he stormed to a then 400m African Record of 43.76s to win beat James at the Paris Diamond League.

However, proper notice was taken when Niekerk ran the sixth fastest time in history to win GOLD in Beijing, clocking 43.48s. Many expected that he would finish on the podium, but running that fast and claiming GOLD, wasn’t envisaged.

How about Merritt, an old warhorse who has shown that he is not fazed by the threat of much younger athletes like Niekerk and James?  The American won Silver last year, and has this year shown that he is in the frame to even do better.

Merrit this year has run the fastest time in the quarter mile, clocking 43.97s to win at the US trials, while James on his part is the second fastest with 44.08s, and Van Niekerk third fastest with 44.11s. So in essence, they are ranked Top 3 in the men’s 400m going to the Olympics.

In fact to further explain the dominance of the trio, each of them has two (apiece) of the Top 6 fastest times in the world this year. Merritt on his part has three of the Top 7 fastest times this year, which explains why the race could swing either way.

While Merritt is a former Olympic champion, James on his part is the defending champion;  so can Van Niekerk complete the cycle and join them in the elite list?

Having seen the way Van Niekerk stormed to victory last year, Merritt and James would be hoping for some revenge of sort. The possible outcome in this duel is that Michael Johnson’s long standing 43.18s World Record (WR) could make way.