Young American could threaten Wayde van Niekerk’s Olympic dream

Texan-born Matthew Boling, is making waves on the American collegiate track scene and is being talked about as a future contender for world records and Olympic glory.

At just 20-years-of-age Boling is yet to hit his prime running years but he is already posting some impressive numbers.

He recently put up the second-fastest indoor 400-metre time of the year as America’s college athletes are allowed to get back to competition.

The competitive edge granted by being allowed to get back to competition while athletes all over the world battle uncertainty and less-than-ideal training conditions might give Boling a leg up on the challenge.

However, places at the Olympics are limited and Boling would need to unseat one of the United States’ top sprinters to get his shot at competing against Olympic Champion and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk in Tokyo later this year.

Europe and North America are currently in the midst of their indoor season while the Diamond League is tentatively set to get underway in Morocco in May.

Watch: Wayde van Niekerk breaks the 400 metre WR

Could Matthew Boling threaten Wayde van Niekerk’s Olympic dream

In Van Niekerk’s absence Bahamian sprinter Steven Gardiner claimed the 2019 World Championships gold medal over the distance with a blistering 43.48, which was just off the incredible mark of 43.03 that the South African put up in Rio.

Boling has previously set out his stall to specialise in the 100 and 200 metres but has put in some impressive performances over 400.

It is likely that the winner of the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo will need to dip under 44 seconds, which Boling is yet to do in his track career. Van Niekerk is targeting a sub 43 time as his next big career goal, and has been very clear that he sees himself as his greatest competition. 

With van Niekerk out for much of the 2020 season, Americans Justin Robinson and Michael Cherry put up the fastest times of the year. The disrupted season effected runners ability to get up to pace so those numbers are not a true reflection of their pace and also make predicting the Olympic race something of a challenge.

Boling is certainly one for the future and has been earmarked for greatness before he enrolled at the University of Georgia, but it remains to be seen if he appears in Tokyo or waits for the Paris Games in 2024 to make his mark on th sport.

Watch: Olympic prospect Matthew Boling creates hype over 400 metres

Could Matthew Boling threaten Wayde van Niekerk’s Olympic dream