Day nine at the Rio 2016 Olympics was a very special night for track and field as it saw Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old 400m world record smashed in incredible style.
Watch the unbelievable moment in the video above.
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk delivered an awe-inspiring display to cross the line in 43.03 seconds, 0.15 quicker than the American’s time.
Better still, the 24-year-old managed to produce the race of his life from lane eight – a usually unfavourable side of the track.
Starting strong, it looked for all the world as though van Niekerk would be caught up on the bends. However, the South African kept his pace up and seemed to get quicker in the final 200m.
London 2012 winner Kirani James could only watch on as he finished a staggering 0.73 seconds behind van Niekerk. America’s LaShawn Merritt took bronze.
On what was supposed to be Usain Bolt’s special night, van Niekerk’s world record more than stole the show and certainly upstaged the Jamaican.
