South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk (© Getty Images)
Following his world-leading 44.17 run over 400m last weekend, Wayde van Niekerk has been confirmed to compete at Oslo’s Bislett Games – part of the Wanda Diamond League – on 15 June.
The 30-year-old from South African won the Olympic title in 2016 with a world record of 43.03. He also won world titles over the distance in 2015 and 2017, but he then sustained a career-threatening injury and spent many months on the sidelines.
He has gradually returned to action in recent years, reaching the Olympic semifinals in 2021 and the World Championships final in 2022. His 44.17 clocking last weekend is his fastest 400m performance since winning the world title almost six years ago.
His presence in the Norwegian capital on 15 June will be his first ever appearance at the Bislett Games.
It also means two world record-holders over one lap of the track will be in action that evening, as Olympic 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm will contest his specialist event in front of a home crowd.
Warholm won’t be the only Norwegian star in action. World and Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will contest the 1500m, while European indoor champion Sondre Guttormsen will compete in the pole vault alongside his brother Simen and Pal Haugen Lillefosse. European cross-country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, meanwhile, will line up for the 3000m.
Organisers for World Athletics
