Imperfect seventh victory in London, but Van Niekerk takes heart: 'I fought for the win'

Wayde van Niekerk’s seventh successive victory this season – at the London Diamond League –may have been the least controlled of his perfect build up to the World Championships, but it was the most instructive. 

Up against Americans Bryce Deadmon and Vernon Norwood, the world 400m record holder (43.03sec) was not allowed to coast to the finish line by himself as he pretty much has in a campaign which, for the first time since his knee injury six years ago, suggested the most strongly that he’s almost back to his best. 

While the 2016 Olympic champion and two-time world champion’s winning time was 44.36sec, his fourth-fastest time of the year after seven races, the Americans were in close attendance, with Deadmon finishing in 44.40sec and Norwood six hundredths of a second behind him in a three-way sprint for the line. 

Despite the imperfection of the race, Van Niekerk was pleased at having to dig deep. 

“Today was one of the more challenging competitions for me physically, but I still came through and fought for the win.” he told Citius Mag in the mixed zone afterwards.

“To an extent I wanted to replicate the last time I ran here (when he won his last world title in 2017).  

“The last time I ran here I was so much more in control of the 400m then, but this year there was a bit more fight needed from me and I was glad I could put up a fight – I've just shown myself that I can fight through difficult days as well – and get a victory. 

“Physically I’m ticking all the right boxes, hopefully I can use that as a reference moving forward to constantly improve and grow and, when we get to Budapest, compete for medals.”

READ | Wayde van Niekerk comes out on top in 400m street fight in London to stay unbeaten

Having won all of his races