'I've seen it coming' - Wayde backs Nene for 400m World Champs success

Through to his first final at the global championships event, Zakithi Nene has emerged as South Africa's first real hope of breaking the World Championships medal drought that stretches back to 2017. Coming into the Tokyo as the fastest 400m athlete this year (43.76), the reigning SA 400m champion lived up to his billing by qualifying for the final courtesy two scintillating runs of 44.34 in Round 1 and an effortless 44.20 in the semi-final.

400m World Record holder Wayde van Niekerk who won a gold medal over one lap of the track and a 200m silver medal at London 2017, is the only medalist that has survived to compete in Tokyo, Japan this year. Having competed against Nene both in SA and on the highly competitive European summer circuit, van Niekerk believes that Nene's time has come.

Nene bossing the men's 400 semi-final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan on September 16, 2025. Photo Credit: Nic Bothma @Matrix Images/ASA.

"I've seen it coming. He's definitely one of the stronger characters in the pack and I see a lot of potential in him. I've seen him as a potential finalist for the last three or four years, so I think. That this year he can count himself amongst the best in the world by being a finalist. And once you're in that final, anything can happen," said van Niekerk who is through to the semi-final of the 200m.

That the 27-year-old has been able to line up at the National Stadium in Tokyo is virtually miraculous. Nene, who is coached by Victor Vaz, suffered a Grade 2 tear in his hamstring in early August which forced him to withdraw from the Brussels and Zurich Diamond League Meets at the end of August in order to focus on a recovery process that was meant to take 6-8 weeks but only took three. His rehabilitation then is in keeping with the amazing season he has enjoyed, which leaves him quietly confident of winning SA's first World Championships 400m medal since Wayde van Niekerk did eight years ago.

van Niekerk takes on the roll of photographer to capture a moment between Nene and one of his fans at the OR Tambo International Airport before Team SA departed for the World Championships in Japan. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

"Pressure is a privilege, you just have to choose how to navigate it. It definitely is a breakthrough year. I got bigger. I got stronger. I got faster and worked on my cardiovascular fitness as well. I think I've stepped into the elite group of that sub 44 club. I’ve gone from being the hunter to the hunted. I'm just enjoying my running and the moment right now. I'm going out there to do my best. It really is an honour to wear the green and gold."

Nene will run in the 400m final on Thursday 18 September at 15H10 CAT.