WATCH: Michael Johnson’s 17-year 400m world record has finally been broken

There were some of us who thought Michael Johnson's 400m world record would never be broken.

The American great ran the distance in 43.18 seconds all the way back in 1999, and only three men had got within half a second since. But one of those three men has set a new bar - and in an Olympic final no less. South African athlete Wayde van Niekerk had just turned seven when Johnson set that first record, and had a personal best of 43.48 - set at last year's Beijing World Championships. But he shattered that time in Rio and even took a full tenth of a second off Johnson's time, coming home in 43.03 seconds - from the outside lane to boot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEPNu6Yv2Yw https://twitter.com/ANN7tv/status/765062414819786752 Praise came rolling in for the 24-year-old after the incredible time, with fellow 400m runner Martyn Rooney among those to point out just how great an achievement it was. https://twitter.com/MartynRooney/status/764993225178378240

Following his victory, Van Niekerk thanked Johnson for the example he set for this generation of 400m runners.

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/765005362902601728

And Johnson himself was more than humble after witnessing a piece of history.

https://twitter.com/MJGold/status/765012527012913152 https://twitter.com/MJGold/status/765017431957868544 Van Niekerk was the first athlete to ever win 400m Olympic Gold from lane 8, and he was running from the outside lane because he didn't even win his semi-final. Grenada's Kirani James took silver after winning gold in London four years ago, while the bronze medal went to LaShawn Merritt of the United States. Team GB's Matthew Hudson-Smith, finished eighth in a time of 44.61 seconds.