WAYDE van Niekerk will not compete in the men’s 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The former Grey College and University of the Free State student won the gold medal at Rio 2016 in the event and holds the world record after breaking Michael Johnson’s time in winning the final in Brazil.
Van Niekerk has only raced once in the 400m this season, a third-place finish at the New York City Grand Prix on 9 June, following a career-threatening knee injury.
He is now listed to only compete in the men’s 200m.
The South Africa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee confirmed that their biggest track and field athletics star will now focus on the half-lap race at the Stade de France.
Van Niekerk is also listed in the pool of runners available for selection to the men’s relay teams.
South Africa qualified to the 4x100m and the 4x400m, where the country is considered a top medal contender after their silver at the 2024 World Relays.
Relay heats begin on 8 August, the same day as the 200m final.
Van Niekerk attained the 200m qualifying time for the Paris Games by achieving an automatic entry time.
His season best was the 20.29 he clocked at the 2024 Meeting Madrid on 21 June, while his personal best over the 200m is the 19.84 from 2017 just before his knee injury.
The other qualified South African athletes in the half lap are Shaun Maswangwanyi and Benjamin Richardson, who beat Van Niekerk in the 200m at the South African Championships.
Luxolo Adams, who had previously qualified too for the 200m, has been ruled out by injury.
Van Niekerk made his international debut at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics, where he placed fourth in the 200m with a personal best time of 21.02 seconds.
He also ran in the 4×100m relay heats with the national team, alongside Gideon Trotter.
His senior breakthrough came at the age of 18 at the 2011 South African Athletics Championships when he won the 200m title in a new personal best time of 20.57 seconds.
He competed in the same event at the 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships, but did not make the final.
He ran sparingly in 2012 but began to show a talent for the 400m, setting a best time of 46.43 seconds. – Olympics.com/Sports Reporter