Wayde van Niekerk gets Twitter buzzing

JOBURG – Twitter reels as Wayde van Niekerk makes history.

August 15, 2016

Racine Edwardes 1 minute read

Wayde van Niekerk brought the nation to tears this morning when he won gold and broke the world record in the men’s 400-metre final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

National pride does not even describe the feeling throughout South Africa, as the young runner made headlines.

Even legendary 100-metre sprinter, Usain Bolt, congratulated Van Niekerk and gave the young local his seal of approval.

Van Niekerk has also attracted the attention of notable South Africans. “I am very proud as a South African and as an IOC member, to have been at the event a few hours ago where Wayde van Niekerk broke the 400m World Record. His Olympic Gold Medal win has made us all extremely excited and proud of him as a son of South Africa,” says Anant Singh, member of the International Olympic Committee.

“Breaking Michael Johnson’s record, is no mean feat, more importantly as Johnson is the only person to have had done the 100m in under 10 seconds, the 200m under 20 seconds and to have held the world record for the 400m,” he gushed.

“We congratulate Wayde for the huge honour he has bestowed upon us.”

He continues, “It is also with deep pride that I extend my congratulations to Luvo Manyonga for winning the Silver Medal in the Men’s Long Jump, a triumph which he achieved against all odds.”

The Twitterverse exploded after the race took place in the early hours of this morning, so check out what the Johannesburg Twittersphere has to say about #WaydevanNiekerk:

So proud to wake up and see what @WaydeDreamer managed to achieve in the 400m .. Brilliant, amazing, True Champion 🏅🇿🇦 #WaydevanNiekerk

— Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) August 15, 2016

Congrats #WaydevanNiekerk with a great win and record! https://t.co/TtoF2H9CwF

— Stats SA (@StatsSA) August 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/DonovanGoliath/status/765090269419147264

Proud to be South African @WaydeDreamer well done. #WaydevanNiekerk What a time to be alive. pic.twitter.com/rA3UhzturZ

— IMBIZO LIVE 11 Nov @ Carnival City 🎸 (@ThikhoEventsZA) August 15, 2016

Quote his name, it wont cost you a thing ! #WaydevanNiekerk https://t.co/GT3WPqe5Fz

— RockerBeez™️ (@kgeremolla) August 15, 2016

Congratulations #WaydevanNiekerk for winning a gold medal & setting a new world record in #Rio2016 Great role model pic.twitter.com/kBraC3zx7T

— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) August 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/Leko_M/status/765030151180652544

Making #WaydevanNiekerk achievement so wonderful is his coach is a 74year old Anna Botha a great grandmother. pic.twitter.com/WFRTOSyR5G

— Radio 2000 (@Radio2000_ZA) August 15, 2016