Wayde van Niekerk facts for kids
van Niekerk at the 2017 World Championships
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | South African | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 July 1992 Kraaifontein, Cape Province, South Africa |
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| Height | 1.83m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Adidas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Lance Brauman (2021–present) Anna Botha (2012–2021) |
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| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | 1st (400 m, 2023) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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Wayde van Niekerk (born 15 July 1992) is a famous South African track and field runner. He is known for his amazing speed in sprint races. He competes in the 200-meter and 400-meter events.
Wayde holds the world and Olympic record for the 400 meters. He set this record when he won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. He also won gold medals at the World Championships in 2015 and 2017.
He is the first sprinter ever to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds, the 200 meters in under 20 seconds, and the 400 meters in under 44 seconds. This makes him a truly special athlete!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wayde van Niekerk was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He was born early and needed a blood transfusion as a baby. His mother, Odessa Swarts, was also a sprinter.
In 2005, Wayde and his mother moved to Bloemfontein. He attended Grey College there. Later, he studied marketing at the University of the Free State.
Wayde's Amazing Career
Wayde started his international career at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He finished fourth in the 200 meters race. In 2011, he won his first big title in South Africa, winning the 200 meters.
Becoming a 400m Star
In 2013, Wayde started focusing on the 400 meters. He won a national title in this event. He also won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2013 Summer Universiade. This was his first international medal.
In 2014, Wayde broke the South African record for the 400 meters. He ran it in 44.38 seconds. He also won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the Commonwealth Games.
Breaking Records and Winning Gold
The year 2015 was a huge year for Wayde. He ran the 400 meters in under 44 seconds for the first time. He also ran the 200 meters in under 20 seconds. This made him only the second person ever to achieve both feats.
At the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, Wayde won his first gold medal. He won the 400 meters in 43.48 seconds. This made him the fourth-fastest 400-meter runner of all time.
In 2016, Wayde made history again. He became the first person to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds, the 200 meters in under 20 seconds, and the 400 meters in under 44 seconds. He was also the flag bearer for South Africa at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Olympic Glory and World Record
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Wayde won the gold medal in the 400 meters. He set a new world record with an incredible time of 43.03 seconds. He broke the previous record set by Michael Johnson in 1999. What's even more amazing is that he won from lane eight, which is usually a difficult lane to win from.
In 2017, Wayde continued his success. He won his second 400 meters world title at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London. He also won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the same championships. This made him the first South African to win two individual sprint medals at one event.
Overcoming Challenges
In October 2017, Wayde got a serious knee injury while playing a celebrity tag rugby match. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament. This injury meant he couldn't compete in 2018. He worked very hard to recover.
He returned to racing in 2019 but faced a long road back to his top form. He did not compete in the 2019 World Championships. He also did not reach the 400 meters final at the 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021). However, he showed his fighting spirit by finishing 5th in the 400 meters final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Wayde was coached by Ans Botha, known as Tannie Ans (Aunty Ans), until 2021. He then moved to the United States to train with Lance Brauman.
Wayde's Personal Life
Wayde van Niekerk married Chesney Campbell on 29 October 2017. He is the cousin of famous South African rugby player Cheslin Kolbe. They even played rugby together when they were younger. Both Wayde and Cheslin were part of the South African Olympic Team in Rio in 2016.
Wayde is a Christian. He often shares his faith, tweeting "Jesus Did It" and "GOD IS POWER" after setting his world record. He is also a big fan of the English football club Liverpool F.C.. His sister, Kayla Swarts, is an international hockey player.
Career Highlights and Records
Wayde van Niekerk has achieved many impressive times and won many medals throughout his career.
Personal Best Times
Wayde has set incredible personal bests in various sprint events:
- 100 meters: 9.94 seconds (2017)
- 200 meters: 19.84 seconds (2017)
- 300 meters: 30.81 seconds (2017) - This is a national best!
- 400 meters: 43.03 seconds (2016) - This is the current world record and Olympic record!
Major Competition Results
Wayde has represented South Africa and Africa in many big competitions:
- 2010 World Junior Championships: 4th in 200m
- 2013 Universiade: Silver in 4 × 400m relay
- 2014 Commonwealth Games: Silver in 400m
- 2014 African Championships: Silver in 400m
- 2014 Continental Cup: Gold in 4 × 400m relay
- 2015 World Championships: Gold in 400m
- 2016 African Championships: Gold in 4 × 100m relay and 200m
- 2016 Olympic Games: Gold in 400m (World Record)
- 2017 World Championships: Gold in 400m, Silver in 200m
- 2022 World Championships: 5th in 400m
- 2023 World Championships: 7th in 400m
Diamond League Wins
Wayde has won many races in the Diamond League, which is a series of top athletics meetings:
- 2015: Birmingham (300m), New York, Paris, London
- 2016: Rome, Monaco
- 2017: Monaco, Lausanne
- 2023: Silesia, Oslo, London
See also
In Spanish: Wayde van Niekerk para niños
