“I had quite a bit of nerves I had to shake out today,” said Van Niekerk. “I had a good 200m, shut down a bit too soon, but I’m sure the more I do this the more I start getting more control.
Van Niekerk didn’t try to dice the two men who finished in front of him, Anthony Jose Zambrano of Colombia, the 2019 world championship silver medallist who took the heat in 44.87, and Australian Steven Solomon, second in 44.94.
“I was aiming for top two but obviously that didn’t happen, but I’m still in the Games and I’m still in the running for a medal and that’s what’s important,” said Van Niekerk, who should have more in the tank, considering he’s been faster in his two previous races this year, clocking 44.56 and 44.87 in June.Five competitors in the heats went under 45 seconds, including pace-setting American Michael Cherry and Botswana’s Isaac Makwala .
Van Niekerk’s right knee was surgically reconstructed after hurting it in a game of tag rugby, and Sunday’s race was only his sixth 400m in two years.
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