By Chris Chavez
July 17, 2023
World record holder Wayde Van Niekerk won the Silesia Diamond League men’s 400m in 44.08s to set a meet record.
What you need to know:
– Van Niekerk ran his fastest 400m time since winning gold at the 2017 world championships in London.
– Van Niekerk suffered a knee injury during a charity tag rugby match in 2017, which required surgery to repair medial and lateral tears of the meniscus and a torn ACL.
– Van Niekerk set the 400 meter world record of 43.03 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was also the 2015 and 2017 world champion at 400m. Last summer, he reached the world championship final and finished 5th.
– Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori took second in a personal best of 44.61. Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, the 2022 400m hurdles world champion, ran his first race of the year since a knee injury nearly knocked him out for the entire season.
What he said:
Van Niekerk: “Things are moving in a positive direction. I have been able to train consistently. It is my fastest run in 7 years and 44.0 shows that 43 seconds is possible. The competition in my event is getting stronger, so I need to work to get better as well. I do not feel any special pressure, but it is natural for an athlete to want to reach their best possible level.
I will be going on to London now and then want to get some good training sessions before the World Championships.”
Our Take:
Van Niekerk is heading into the world championships as the gold medal favorite. It’s been a wide-open season in the event. No one is running crazy fast. Reigning world champion Michael Norman has dealt with injuries and a recent coaching switch. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, the 20-year-old who holds the fastest time in the world with a 43.91 at altitude in Gaborone, was injured in Sunday’s race and is 0–2 vs. van Niekerk in 2023. U.S. champion Bryce Deadmon might be his biggest competition after running 44.22 to win in Eugene last weekend but was understandably flat in his first European trip since nationals. Van Niekerk’s comeback has been remarkable. He’s undefeated and the guy to beat in Budapest. – Chris Chavez
I just love the trajectory right now. It just seems like he’s got his swagger back. – Kyle Merber
It hasn’t been a banner year for the men’s 400m. We haven’t seen a bunch of sub-44s. No one has totally lit up the Diamond League circuit. I wouldn’t bet against Van Niekerk because I don’t see anyone really stepping up to challenge him. Maybe that changes in the next month or so. Right now, we’re probably on track to see one of the slower years in the men’s 400m but that’s probably what van Niekerk might need to get his mojo back before Paris. – David Melly
What comes next:
Van Niekerk is expected to race the 400m at the London Diamond League on July 21. This will be his first time back at London Stadium since he won gold in 2017. The men’s 400m at the world championships starts on Sunday, Aug. 20. The final will be contested on Thursday, Aug. 24.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
