Wayde van Niekerk guns for a rare double
Van Niekerk upbeat on winning the 200m title at the athletics world championship
London — Wayde van Niekerk retained his 400m world crown in London on Tuesday night and then said he believed he could add the 200m title to bag a rare world championship double. "It’s easier said than done‚" Van Niekerk said of his prospects for joining US legend Michael Johnson as the only athletes to have landed the 400m and 200m at the international showpiece. "This competition is very unpredictable‚ but I know I’ve got the abilities‚" he said. "My body still feels good. The recovery process after tonight was a bit difficult‚ it took me a while to recover… recovery tonight is very‚ very important for tomorrow’s semifinal because it’s going to go straight from endurance to speed tomorrow." Van Niekerk — who slowed dramatically late in the 400m final to save energy for the 200m — gushed about the shorter race. "Now that the 400 is gone‚ I love the 200‚ I love it so much‚" said Van Niekerk‚ who ran the 200m heats on Monday night. "I got over the finish line with a smile. I could go...
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