The popular South African – who lowered Michael Johnson’s world record with an astonishing time of 43.03 to win Olympic gold in Rio 2016 – has demonstrated a welcome return to form in recent weeks with two consecutive Wanda Diamond League victories in Oslo (44.38) and Silesia (44.08). In fact, his performance in Poland was his seventh-quickest ever.
“Things are moving in a positive direction. I have been able to train consistently,” said the two-time world champion post-race. “It is my fastest run in seven years and 44.0 shows that 43 seconds is possible. The competition in my event is getting stronger, so I need to work to get better as well. I do not feel any special pressure, but it is natural for an athlete to want to reach their best possible level.”
His competition in London includes US trio Bryce Deadmon, Ryan Willie and Vernon Norwood, three of the ten fastest athletes over the one lap distance this year to date.
Deadmon is an Olympic and world 4 x 400m relay gold medallist and won the recent US Championships in a personal best of 44.22. Willie won NCAA 4 x 400m gold in early June and set a PB of 44.25 as runner-up in the individual event. Norwood, a member of the USA 4 x 400m gold-medal-winning relay squad in Tokyo and Eugene, has a best of 44.35 (2022). He finished second to Deadmon at the US nationals in a season’s best of 44.39.
British record holder Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.35), the 2022 European 400m champion, world bronze medallist and Commonwealth silver medallist, will be the home favourite alongside 2023 UK champion and European 400m bronze medallist Alex Haydock-Wilson (GBR). The pair have season’s best times of 44.92 and 45.25 respectively.
Completing the field are Leungo Scotch (BOT) and Liemarvin Bonevacia (NED). Scotch – who won the 400m at the Lausanne Diamond League – recorded his lifetime best of 44.82 with victory in Geneva in early June. Bonevacia is a 4 x 400m relay silver medallist from Tokyo and the Dutch national record holder (44.48) with a season’s best of 45.06.
The full start lists for the London Athletics Meet are available here.
The remaining tickets are on sale now with the majority priced at £23 per adult and £5 per child.
