4. Men’s 400m/Wayde Van Niekerk
Stay away from this if you are not an optimist! Indeed I am, that’s why I think that the current World Record (WR) which is barely six months old, could go, and it will be the holder Wayde Van Niekerk who will set a new one.
Who can forget that epic race at the Rio Olympics, where Van Niekerk defied logic and stormed to GOLD in a WR time. I don’t know where the legendary Michael Johnson watched that race from, but I am sure we both agree that he has gotten a worthy successor.
Running from Lane 8, Van Niekerk established a wide gap between himself and the pair of Kirani James and Lashawn Merritt, that hard as they tried to catch him from Lanes 6 and 5, they posted 43.76s and 43.85s respectively, times that could win you any other race.
I know they say all lanes have the same measurement, but there must be a reason athletes tend to avoid the outside lanes. Imagine how much faster Van Niekerk could come out from the bends running from Lane 5 or 6!
(Photo Credit: Making of Champions/PaV Media)
When he found that extra gear towards the home straight to come in at 43.03s, surpassing Johnson’s 17-year old former record of 43.18s, there is every reason to believe he could have even done better, factoring in that he slowed down in the last 10m as he was fixated on the time.
Let’s picture him focused with the same drive until he crosses the finish line; it means we are looking at someone who could run 42s. I know it sounds outlandish, but Van Niekerk has the capability of running below 43s.
The South African has gone from being the first non-American athlete to enter the Top 10 fastest times list, to now being the fastest man over that distance in the world.
In 2017, we strongly believe that Van Niekerk, who has a penchant for delivering on the big stage, could go on to better his own WR mark, maybe at the World Championships in London.
Do You know that Van Niekerk is the first African male quarter-miler to win the World and Olympic titles in successive years?
