South African athlete Wayde van Niekerk made history over the weekend by earning a sprinting record that no man had previously held.

The current world 400 metre champion became the first man ever to run a combination of sprinting races under specific elite athlete times, with the 100m under 10 seconds, the 200m under 20 seconds and the 400m in under 44 seconds.

The incredible feat was completed on Saturday at the Free State Championships in Bloemfontein, South Africa, with the sprinter beating his previous personal best in the 100m to clinch a place in history.

His time of 9.98 for the 100m, added to 19.94 for the 200m sprint and 43.48 over 400m puts him in a class of his own.

The 23-year-old Van Niekerk had not competed officially in a 100m race since his time as a junior athlete, with his previous personal best in the short format sprint clocking in at 10.45 seconds.

This time was recorded in 2011, and he would have been expected to better it, but a sub 10 second time would still have been a surprise for most observers, and perhaps even Van Niekerk himself, as his reaction on social media showed genuine elation.

Speaking to his fans and followers via his Instagram account, the humble athlete said: “Wow!!! Truly grateful and humbled by the opportunity and talents the Lord has blessed me with. Finally reaching my childhood dream of sub 10. 400m – 43.48 200m – 19.94 100m – 9.98.”

He added, “Truly so blessed thank you to everyone supporting me with in my career. And all that’s contributed to where I am today!!!”

The last week was a positive one for South African athletics, as Van Niekerk became the second sprinter from the country to break the 10 second barrier over 100 metres.

Akani Simbine recorded a new national record of 9.96 in Pretoria on Tuesday, and with the 2016 Olympics set for later this year in Rio, South African athletics will be excited about the potential that these two athletes have in terms of medal prospects.