Wayde van Niekerk: 'I have achieved my dream'

Wayde van Niekerk has said that he always believed that he could break Michael Johnson's long-standing 400m world record.

Van Niekerk won gold in a time of 43.03s as he obliterated a time set by Johnson in 1999, and the South African admitted that he had enjoyed a dream night in Rio de Janeiro.

The 24-year-old told BBC Sport: "I have dreamt of this moment since I was a little kid. The only thing I can do right now is give God praise. I went on my knees every day and ask the Lord to take care of me. I even wrote it on my spikes.

"I believed I could break the world record but it was a very challenging competition and anything was possible. I'm just glad things went my way tonight."

After the race, Johnson tipped Van Niekerk to become the 'next star of athletics'.