Wayde van Niekerk Withdraws from Men’s 400m at Paris 2024 Olympics

South African athlete Wayde van Niekerk has announced his withdrawal from the men’s 400m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shifting his focus to the 200m race. Van Niekerk, who holds the world record in the 400m, won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics and is a prominent figure in track and field athletics.

Having only participated in one 400m race this season at the New York City Grand Prix, where he finished third, Van Niekerk has decided to prioritize the half-lap race at the Stade de France. The South Africa Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee confirmed this strategic change in Van Niekerk’s event schedule for the upcoming Olympics.

Despite withdrawing from the individual 400m event, Van Niekerk remains a key contender for the men’s relay teams at the Paris Games. South Africa has qualified for both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with the latter presenting a strong medal opportunity following their silver medal performance at the 2024 World Relays.

Van Niekerk recently achieved the qualifying time for the men’s 200m event at the Paris Olympics, posting a season-best performance of 20.29 at the South African Championships. His personal best in the 200m stands at 19.84, set in 2017 before a career-threatening knee injury.

Joining Van Niekerk in the 200m at Paris 2024 are fellow South African athletes Shaun Maswangwanyi and Benjamin Richardson, both of whom outpaced Van Niekerk at the national championships. However, Luxolo Adams, another South African sprinter who had qualified for the 200m, is doubtful for the event due to injury concerns.