![South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk has won the gold medal in the men's 400 metres in a new world record time of 43.03 at the Olympics Stadium on the ninth day of South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk has won the gold medal in the men's 400 metres in a new world record time of 43.03 at the Olympics Stadium on the ninth day of](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/GJDGMG/south-africas-wayde-van-niekerk-has-won-the-gold-medal-in-the-mens-GJDGMG.jpg)
South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk has won the gold medal in the men's 400 metres in a new world record time of 43.03 at the Olympics Stadium on the ninth day of
![Rio 2016: Wayde van Niekerk just won gold but his track star mother would have never had the same opportunity | The Independent | The Independent Rio 2016: Wayde van Niekerk just won gold but his track star mother would have never had the same opportunity | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/08/16/10/wayde-van-neikerk-rio-400m-gold.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp)
Rio 2016: Wayde van Niekerk just won gold but his track star mother would have never had the same opportunity | The Independent | The Independent
![SportsCenter on Twitter: "World Record! Wayde van Niekerk runs away with the 400m title and breaks Michael Johnson's WR with a time of 43.03. https://t.co/Fjd32UV1Af" / Twitter SportsCenter on Twitter: "World Record! Wayde van Niekerk runs away with the 400m title and breaks Michael Johnson's WR with a time of 43.03. https://t.co/Fjd32UV1Af" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cp3LfW3XgAAqHU8.jpg)
SportsCenter on Twitter: "World Record! Wayde van Niekerk runs away with the 400m title and breaks Michael Johnson's WR with a time of 43.03. https://t.co/Fjd32UV1Af" / Twitter
![Wayde Van Niekerk wins men's 400 metres in world record 43.03 to claim gold for South Africa and beat Michael Johnson's 17-year record Wayde Van Niekerk wins men's 400 metres in world record 43.03 to claim gold for South Africa and beat Michael Johnson's 17-year record](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/olympics/2016/08/15/wayde_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpg?imwidth=480)
Wayde Van Niekerk wins men's 400 metres in world record 43.03 to claim gold for South Africa and beat Michael Johnson's 17-year record
![RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa wins the mens 400m final and sets a new world record of 43.03 seconds during the evening session on RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa wins the mens 400m final and sets a new world record of 43.03 seconds during the evening session on](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/GJDKPT/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-august-14-wayde-van-niekerk-of-south-africa-GJDKPT.jpg)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa wins the mens 400m final and sets a new world record of 43.03 seconds during the evening session on
![Interview with Wayde van Niekerk: South African sets new world record running 43.03 seconds - CCTV News - CCTV.com English Interview with Wayde van Niekerk: South African sets new world record running 43.03 seconds - CCTV News - CCTV.com English](http://p1.img.cctvpic.com/photoworkspace/contentimg/2016/08/16/2016081611433897051.jpg)
Interview with Wayde van Niekerk: South African sets new world record running 43.03 seconds - CCTV News - CCTV.com English
![43.03 From Lane 8! Wayde van Niekerk Takes Down Michael Johnson's 17-Year-Old 400M World Record to Win Olympic Gold - LetsRun.com 43.03 From Lane 8! Wayde van Niekerk Takes Down Michael Johnson's 17-Year-Old 400M World Record to Win Olympic Gold - LetsRun.com](http://www.letsrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/VanNiekerk_WaydeWR4303-RioOlyG16.jpg)
43.03 From Lane 8! Wayde van Niekerk Takes Down Michael Johnson's 17-Year-Old 400M World Record to Win Olympic Gold - LetsRun.com
![RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa in front of the board showing his new world record in the mens 400m (43.03 seconds) during the evening RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa in front of the board showing his new world record in the mens 400m (43.03 seconds) during the evening](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/GJDM0K/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-august-14-wayde-van-niekerk-of-south-africa-GJDM0K.jpg)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa in front of the board showing his new world record in the mens 400m (43.03 seconds) during the evening
![Wayde Van Niekerk wins men's 400 metres in world record 43.03 to claim gold for South Africa and beat Michael Johnson's 17-year record Wayde Van Niekerk wins men's 400 metres in world record 43.03 to claim gold for South Africa and beat Michael Johnson's 17-year record](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/olympics/2016/08/15/vanniekerk_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqytxLMmtfp3sC_cEhhtHl3-kWZ2wQyMFrq6bVM5K5Eps.jpg)