The key to winning a championship event is to be truly fit and racing ready on the day and time of the major event. Such was the case of Wayde Van Niekerk. In this presser, Wayde discusses his 400 meters win, on a cold night, and with the 200 meters in front of him.
Winning the 400 meters was Wayde Van Niekerk, in 43.98. In second was Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas, in 44.41, and in the bronze position was Abdelah Haroun of Qatar in 44.48.
As the song writer Steven Forbert said nearly forty years ago, “you can not win, if you do not play.” Wayde Van Niekerk won, because he made it, round by round to the final and performed on the day, and the time, and the minute. His 43.98 seconds were earned, on a chilly evening, and less than 24 hours before he began the 200 meters semi finals.