Wayde van Niekerk snuck into the final of the men’s 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in Hungary on Tuesday. Photo: Olympics.org
NO medal for Wayde van Niekerk in 400m final say bookmakers
SA’s Wayde van Niekerk won’t win a medal in the men’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships – if bookmakers are to be believed.
Wayde van Niekerk snuck into the final of the men’s 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in Hungary on Tuesday. Photo: Olympics.org
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk won’t win a medal in the men’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon – if bookmakers are to be believed.
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Van Niekerk, who unforgettably won the gold medal in the 400m at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in a world record time of 43.03 – which stands to this day – posted the fifth-fastest time heading into the final.
Running in the third and final semi-final heat on Wednesday, Van Niekerk finished second in 44.75 to secure one the two automatic qualification spots for the final.
Wayde van Niekerk an underdog in the final
American Michael Norman posted the quickest time of 44.30.
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Van Niekerk, who turned 30 last Friday, will head into the final as an underdog, and while he will need to find more speed to make the podium, nobody is likely to write him off.
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Wayde van Niekerk has been drawn in Lane 7 for the final which will take place at 04:35 on Saturday (SA time).
Leading SA bookmakers Hollywoodbets have Van Niekerk as only the fifth favourite to win gold at the World Athletics Championships at 10/1.
Norman is the overwhelming favourite at 4/10, followed by Grenada’s Kirani James (6/1) and American Champion Allison and Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith (both 7/1).
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