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Cape Town - Wayde van Niekerk's world record run in the 400m at the Rio Olympics has netted the 24-year-old star R400 000 from South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
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Van Niekerk stunned his opposition - and the rest of the world - on Sunday night (Monday monring SA time) when he stormed to victory out of lane 8, setting a new world's best time of 43.03.
At the announcement of the South African team to compete in Rio last month, SASCOC confirmed an incentive programme designed to incentivise athletes to medal at the Rio Games.
SASCOC promised to award all gold medalists at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games R500 000.
Of that, R400 000 would go to the athlete and the remaining R100 000 to the coach.
Silver medal winners will earn R200 000 (R50 000) for the coach, while those bagging bronze will pocket R80 000 (R20 000 for the coach).
To date, SASCOC has forked out R1.58m thanks to Van Niekerk's gold and the five silvers and single bronze won to date.
Of interest is the fact the Singapore's Joseph Schooling, who denied American swimming legend Michael Phelps gold in the 100m butterfly, received R10 million for his medal.
