Newly-crowned 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk was rushed to a nearby hospital after collapsing in the wake of his stunning victory at the world athletics championships at Beijing's National Stadium on Wednesday.

"The athlete suffered a respiratory failure," said a doctor who treated the South African runner.

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 ever over 400 meters.

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.

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