It would be fair to say that Wayde van Niekerk’s world record 400 metre gold in Rio will be the country’s favourite sporting moment of the year, with Caster’s critic-silencing run a close second.

Of course he’s been performing on the world stage for a number of years, but there’s something about a run so good it stops Usain Bolt in his tracks that really sticks in the memory.

Just to put a smile on your dial and help ease the midweek pain let’s relive that moment one more time, with Usain’s face pretty much saying it all:

Usain Bolt’s reaction to Wayde van Niekerk’s WR 43.03 in the 400m final. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/GJIaMLGzIZ

— Stephen Nelson (@Stephen__Nelson) August 15, 2016

And the fact that he is coached by a great-grandmother (HERE) – stop it now.

One person who is certainly a fan is Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, who has written to Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille suggesting that Green Point Athletics Stadium be renamed after Wayde.

TimesLive reports:

“Mr Van Niekerk flew South Africa’s flag high and did the nation proud‚” Zille said on Wednesday.

In 2015‚ he won the 400m final at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing‚ she said‚ and he was the first person to run faster than 10 seconds for 100m‚ 20 seconds for 200m and 44 seconds for 400m.

“These are extraordinary feats‚ especially for a 24-year-old university student. I believe it would be appropriate to honour Mr Van Niekerk by renaming the current Green Point Athletics Stadium after him. He has not only done the country proud‚ but his home city and province.

“The renaming of the stadium would not only serve as a reminder of his incredible story‚ but as an inspiration to many other young people – demonstrating that anything is possible‚ with the right combination of discipline‚ hard work and dedication”.

I’m sure there are many boxes to be ticked and signed before this comes to fruition, but if it helps inspire local kids to take up athletics then perhaps it’s a good thing.

Will we see a Caster Semenya renaming somewhere in her home province of Limpopo?

Also, anyone know if Wayde has been able to hang on to the R10 million watch he wore during the Olympics (HERE)?

[source:timeslive]