Beijing, Aug 26 (IANS): Newly-crowned 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk was rushed to a nearby hospital when he collapsed shortly after his stunning victory at the athletics World Championships at Beijing's National Stadium on Wednesday.
"The athlete suffered a respiratory failure," said a doctor who treated the South African runner, reports Xinhua.
Van Niekerk chopped almost half a second off his personal best for the winning time of 43.48 seconds which makes him the fourth fastest man so far over 400 metres.
Two-time world and 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States came second in 43.65, while Kirani James of Grenada, the 2011 world and 2012 Olympic champion, had bronze in 43.78.