London 2017 betting: Wayde van Niekerk odds-on for historic athletics double

The South African star, who sensationally smashed Michael Johnson's 17-year-old world record over one lap at the Rio Olympics last year with a time of 43.03 from lane eight, was hot favourite to defend the title he won in Beijing back in 2015 and lived up to his billing with another dominant performance to finish ahead of Steven Gardiner and Abdalelah Haroun.

Van Niekerk is tipped to become the face of athletics once Usain Bolt’s career comes to an end this weekend and now he has the chance to add to his growing reputation by becoming the first man since Johnson 22 years ago to achieve the 200m/400m double at a world championships.

The 25-year-old is 2/7 with Sky Bet to triumph in the 200m final on Wednesday night, with Jamaica’s Yohann Blake his only realistic challenger at 4/1.

Van Niekerk was so comfortable he even slowed down as he approached the line as he added to his Olympic title from Rio and will now target the 200m.

He said: "It's an amazing blessing."

But Botswana's Isaac Makwala - a leading challenger to Van Niekerk - was controversially denied entry to the London Stadium despite insisting he was fit after an outbreak of the norovirus bug.

The 30-year-old, who was also pulled out of the 200m heats on Monday, was withdrawn by organisers the IAAF "due to a medical condition" while Botswana insisted they were given no reason for Makwala being denied entry.

Without Makwala, Van Niekerk was never challenged, with Gardiner of the Bahamas almost half a second behind in 44.41 secs and Haroun third in 44.48s.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse took gold in the men's 800m in one minute 44.67 seconds, ahead of Poland's Adam Kszczot and Kipyegon Bett in third.

The Czech Republic's Barbora Spotakova also took the javelin title ahead of Lingwei Li after throwing 66.76m to regain the crown 10 years after first winning it in Osaka.

The double Olympic champion, who won at London 2012, said: "At this stadium, I am unbeatable. There must be something in the air about London.

"I cannot explain it but when I enter this stadium, I always feel so calm and relaxed. I believed I could really win it today, I was so focused and confident.

"The whole day I was thinking about my last world title which was 10 years ago in Osaka. Actually, it is also almost exactly five years since my Olympic title here in London."

Conseslus Kipruto also claimed the 3,000m steeplechase crown ahead of Soufiane Elbakkali and the USA's Evan Jager.

Kenya's Kipruto clocked eight minutes 14.12 seconds with Elbakkali less than half a second behind.

American Sam Kendrick's took gold in the pole vault with a height of 5.95m, ahead of Poland's Piotr Lisek and France's Renaud Lavillenie.

Elsewhere, Holland's Dafne Schippers and the Ivory Coast's Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who took 100m bronze and silver respectively on Sunday, cruised through to the semi-final of the 200m

Schippers said: "I felt really good. It was an easy race so glad to get it done.

"The medal in the 100m was a boost for me. I've recovered well from the 100m and was looking forward to this one, it's my favourite event."

The event was missing the USA's Tori Bowie who was still recovering from the fall she suffered while winning the 100m on Sunday.

In the women's shot put, Lijiao Gong of China topped qualification for the final with 18.97m with the USA's Michelle Carter five centimetres behind her.

Related links

World Athletics: Medal winners
World Athletics: London 2017 guide
Usain Bolt column
London 2017 Odds