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South African Wayde van Niekerk, world record holder over 400m in 43.03, says he wants to be the first athlete to go below 43 seconds, two years after a big knee ligament injury during a rugby match with other celebrities. The 43 second mark “is definitely a priority for me. Why am I here if not to aim higher? I want to aim for 42 seconds, that’s what my mind and heart are focused on, ”van Niekerk said. Wayde van Niekerk, 28, Olympic champion in Rio and two-time world champion, also confessed he had battled depression in the weeks after his injury. He expressed regret about his participation in the rugby match, admitting that it was “the worst decision to make”, a “stupid” choice after having spent “eight years without touching a ball”.
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