'This is the greatest 400m run of all time'

Wayde van Niekerk from South Africa has set a 400m world record of 43.03 seconds in the final at the Rio Olympics.

Van Niekerk beat every 400m runner in history, including the legendary Michael Johnson.

RIO 2016 LIVE: All the action from Day 9

His time of 43.03 seconds stripped 0.15 off the world record set by Johnson back in 1999.

Defending champion Kirani James from Grenada was second in 43.76 and American LaShawn Merritt was third in 43.85 in a stunning race where four of the top six finishers set personal bests.

Image: Getty

The final had been billed as a major showdown against fellow sprinters James and Merritt, but van Niekerk stunned the field.

"That's the greatest 400m run of all time!" Bruce McAvaney said in commentary.

"He had to break the world record to get gold and he did it!"