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Result: Wayde van Niekerk smashes 400m world record

South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk breaks Michael Johnson's 400m world record to win Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.

Wayde van Niekerk has broken Michael Johnson's long-standing 400m world record to win Olympic gold.

The South African, who had been drawn in lane eight, produced one of the most memorable displays in the history of the sport as he clocked 43.03s.

Before the race, Kirani James and Lashawn Merritt had been tipped to do battle for gold but they were left in Van Niekerk's shadow as he went out hard over the first 200 metres.

His rivals would have expected him to tire during the closing stages but he only increased speed to break Johnson's best time of 43.18s, which had stood for 17 years.

James and Merritt came home in times of 43.76s and 43.85s respectively while Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith was eighth in 44.61s.

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Matthew Hudson-Smith competing in Birmingham on June 27, 2014
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Hudson-Smith: "It was improvisation"
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
United StatesUnited States394133113
ChinaChina38321888
JapanJapan27141758
Great BritainGreat Britain22212265
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee20282371
Today's Olympic highlights header

Sunday's key events


ATHLETICS
· With the track and field action now finished, the final athletics event of the Games is the men's marathon, which includes three British representatives and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge (11pm)

CYCLING
· Laura Kenny goes for a sixth Olympic gold medal, and a second of the Tokyo Games, in the women's omnium (2am-4.25am)
· Jason Kenny also has another shot at gold on the final day of action, taking part in the men's keirin alongside compatriot Jack Carlin (2.24am-4am)

BASKETBALL
· After the men once again picked up Olympic gold, the USA women will attempt to replicate their success in the gold medal match against hosts Japan (3.30am)

VOLLEYBALL
· USA also have a chance for gold in the women's volleyball final against Brazil (5.30am)

BOXING
· Lauren Price bids to bring a successful Games to a golden close for Britain in the ring as she takes on Li Qian in the women's middleweight final (6.45am)

HANDBALL
· The women's gold medal match sees the Russian Olympic Committee take on France (7am)

WATER POLO
· The final gold medal of the Games is likely to be handed out in water polo, when Greece face Serbia in the men's gold medal match (8.30am)

CLOSING CEREMONY
· A unique and memorable Olympic Games officially comes to a close (12pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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