South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk qualified for the men's 400-metre final on the back of a second-placed finish in the semi-final at the Rio Games on Saturday.
Wayde van Niekerk easily qualified for Sunday night’s 400m final and then said he was feeling no pressure.
Van Niekerk ended second in his heat in 44.45sec on Saturday night, allowing himself to be overhauled at the line by Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago.
But the danger man in this event is defending champion Kirani James of Grenada, who cantered to victory in 44.02, beating veteran American and 2008 champion Lashawn Merritt.
“Anyone is a concern who is in the final now. Kirani James, Lashawn Merritt — all have their accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves.
“I have to go out there and have fun. I am just grateful to be in there,” said Van Niekerk, insisting he was feeling no pressure.
“No pressure at all,” Van Niekerk said. “I just get back, recover, and get a good rest so that I can be as fresh and healthy for tomorrow’s race.
“Tomorrow I leave all my trust and fate in God’s hands.”
Van Niekerk insisted he was upbeat after stretching his legs in Saturday’s semifinals. “I feel comfortable. I got to open up way more than yesterday so I feel very positive.”
Merritt is predicting a fast race. “A lot of people in that race want it, so when you want something, you go after it.”
And James said the race had been hard. “It was a tough race. I got the inside lane on Lashawn so I could see what he was doing.”
Van Niekerk will run in lane eight, with Merritt in five and James in six.
Wayde van Niekerk says he feels no pressure
South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk qualified for the men's 400-metre final on the back of a second-placed finish in the semi-final at the Rio Games on Saturday.
Wayde van Niekerk easily qualified for Sunday night’s 400m final and then said he was feeling no pressure.
Van Niekerk ended second in his heat in 44.45sec on Saturday night, allowing himself to be overhauled at the line by Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago.
But the danger man in this event is defending champion Kirani James of Grenada, who cantered to victory in 44.02, beating veteran American and 2008 champion Lashawn Merritt.
“Anyone is a concern who is in the final now. Kirani James, Lashawn Merritt — all have their accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves.
“I have to go out there and have fun. I am just grateful to be in there,” said Van Niekerk, insisting he was feeling no pressure.
“No pressure at all,” Van Niekerk said. “I just get back, recover, and get a good rest so that I can be as fresh and healthy for tomorrow’s race.
“Tomorrow I leave all my trust and fate in God’s hands.”
Van Niekerk insisted he was upbeat after stretching his legs in Saturday’s semifinals. “I feel comfortable. I got to open up way more than yesterday so I feel very positive.”
Merritt is predicting a fast race. “A lot of people in that race want it, so when you want something, you go after it.”
And James said the race had been hard. “It was a tough race. I got the inside lane on Lashawn so I could see what he was doing.”
Van Niekerk will run in lane eight, with Merritt in five and James in six.
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