Wayde van Niekerk has said that he always believed that he could break Michael Johnson's long-standing 400m world record.
Van Niekerk won gold in a time of 43.03s as he obliterated a time set by Johnson in 1999, and the South African admitted that he had enjoyed a dream night in Rio de Janeiro.
The 24-year-old told BBC Sport: "I have dreamt of this moment since I was a little kid. The only thing I can do right now is give God praise. I went on my knees every day and ask the Lord to take care of me. I even wrote it on my spikes.
"I believed I could break the world record but it was a very challenging competition and anything was possible. I'm just glad things went my way tonight."
After the race, Johnson tipped Van Niekerk to become the 'next star of athletics'.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
