“The champ is back, what a time to be a South African.”
Super-sprinter Wayde van Niekerk has been engulfed in South African support after his comeback journey celebrated another victory—the athlete’s fastest run in seven years!
Silesia, Poland (18 July, 2023) — Wayde van Niekerk is fast and furiously proving that his comeback journey is serious. So serious in fact, that the super-sprinter recently clocked his fastest run in seven years at the recent Men’s 400m event at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland.
Van Niekerk tackled a triumphant time of 44.08 at the event, proudly sharing that his comeback journey is moving in a positive direction.
“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.”@WaydeDreamer reflects on a brilliant victory in the men’s 400m.#SilesiaDL 🇵🇱#DiamondLeague
📸 @macroprophoto pic.twitter.com/U73OaH6sK1— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
This meeting record time comes after another iconic moment for the athlete in June as the Wanda Diamond League track transformed from a symbol of prestigious speed into one of enormous hope for van Niekerk.
There, he marked his return to the event after six long years in champion fashion; winning the 400m event and conquering his own past fears that he’d ‘never get back on the track’ in the same pace.
Van Niekerk has become a runner synonymous with resilience for South Africa thanks to his determination following a freak injury in 2017, a mere year after his Olympic gold win at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
If his achievements this year is anything to go by, van Niekerk is gliding well into his comeback era—something many South Africans have long been rooting for.
Of his recent victory, fans showered van Niekerk in love and support.
As one supporter wrote:
“The champ is back, what a time to be a South African.”
by 