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Van Niekerk lays down challenge to Bolt

Cape Town - South African 400m gold medal winner - and world record holder - Wayde van Niekerk has expressed a desire to challenge Jamaica's Usain Bolt.

Van Niekerk, 24, stunned the world when he stormed to victory in Rio on Sunday night (Monday morning SA time), setting a new world record time of 43.03.

Minutes later, Usain Bolt took 9.81 to clinch a hat-trick of 100m titles.

Van Niekerk spent time in Jamaica training with Bolt and talked post-race of how the Caribbean superstar had inspired him as an athlete.

Van Niekerk added that he would love the opportunity to race against Bolt one day.

"My favourite event is the 200m so I would love to race him one day when I’m big," the fastest man ever over 400m said.

Earlier this year, Van Niekerk became the first athlete to run the 100m in under 10 seconds, the 200m in under 20 seconds and the 400m in under 44 seconds.

Van Niekerk's best time for the 200m is 19.94 while Bolt's world record over the distance stands at 19.19.

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