Van Niekerk happy to fight for the win at Diamond League meeting in London
Says: 400m has never been my favourite event but it has definitely been the most rewarding
World 400m record holder, Wayde van Niekerk says he is delighted to fight for the win on Sunday at the Diamond League meeting in London albeit he was not
happy he could replicate the perfromance he put up six years ago at the same venue.
The 31 year old ran 43.98 to win the second of his two World 400m titles at the London stadium in 2017.
He could not also replicate the 48.08 he ran to win at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland a week ago.
This time, Van Niekerk ran 44.36, his fourth best time this season to win the race ahead of of the USA duo of Deadmon Bryce (44.40) and Norwood Vernon
(44.46).
‘To an extent I wanted to replicate the result I had here six years ago. Last time I ran here I was so much more in control of the 400m than this year,
there’s a bit more of a fight needed from me so I’m glad that I could put down a fight today and show myself that I can fight through difficult days too and
get a victory,’ said the South African post race.
Van Niekerk is still confident of making the podium again, six years after he last did at the Championships.
‘Physically I’m ticking all the right boxes, so hopefully I can just use this for myself as a reference moving forward to just constantly improve and grow.
Then, when I get to Budapest I can compete for medals.’
He revealed he has never been a lover of the event that has given him world and Olympic titles and a world record.
‘It’s still a love/hate relationship, 400m has never been my favourite event but it has definitely been the most rewarding. I need to honour the sport that’s got me where I am today and hopefully I can finish top.
‘I’m top three in the world now so in Budapest I’ll be fighting for a medal and I know I have the abilities to grow and improve by then.
