Men’s 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) will return to the London Stadium for the first time since his world title triumph in 2017 to compete at the London Athletics Meet on Sunday 23 July.
The South African claimed world gold at the London 2017 World Athletics Championships to retain the title he won in 2015. He also won 200m silver at those Championships, so he has a history of producing his best performances in London.
In 2016 the South African rewrote the history books of the one-lap event when he set an astonishing world record of 43.03 to win the Olympic gold medal, taking Michael Johnson’s long-standing record.
The two-time African champion recently won at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Oslo in a time of 44.38 to show his statement of intent as he targets a third world title this summer. The win in Norway was the ninth Diamond League victory of his career; another one of those wins coming at the 2015 edition of the London meeting.
He will join Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Matthew Hudson-Smith who has already been announced as part of the line-up for the 400m in London.
On returning to the London Stadium for the first time since 2017, van Niekerk said, “I have so many special memories of competing in London, so I am really looking forward to racing over the 400m in the London Stadium next month.
“The world title in 2017 will live long in my memory, and it was an extra special championship to win silver in the 200m, also. I enjoy racing in front of the British fans, they create a fantastic atmosphere, so I cannot wait to see everyone there on 23 July.”