Wayde van Niekerk breaks world record, wins gold
Wayde van Niekerk has broken the 400-metre world record to claim a gold medal at the Rio Olympics 2016.
Competing in lane 8, the 24-year-old completed the race at 43.03 - beating Michael Johnson's 1999 record by 0.15.
Grenadian sprinter Kirani James took silver at 43.76 while American track athlete LaShawn Merritt clocked 43.85 to claim a bronze medal.
It's the first gold and seventh medal for team South Africa - and the most the country has accumulated since returning to the Olympics in 1992.
The previous world record holder - Michael Johnson - took to Twitter saying the victory and new record were well deserved.
See the moment van Niekerk crosses the finish line below.
Van Niekerk is trending on social media - see reactions to the win below.
Wayde Van Niekerk @WaydeDreamer wins #Gold and sets a new World Record in the 400m race at #Rio2016 🇿🇦 🎉 Retweet! pic.twitter.com/vYTrOyboA7
— South African Gov (@GovernmentZA) August 15, 2016
🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/yJfxxOhTVX
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) August 15, 2016
🇿🇦 @AkaniSimbine @WaydeDreamer 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/JDN4eCLC8u
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) August 15, 2016
Usain Bolt's reaction to Wayde van Niekerk's WR 43.03 in the 400m final. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/GJIaMLGzIZ
— Stephen Nelson (@Stephen__Nelson) August 15, 2016
Legends...World record holders...Golden Stars! #WaydevanNiekerk & #UsainBolt. ✊✊✊ pic.twitter.com/tnUeRQaS3p
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) August 15, 2016