Despite many pundits claiming he is the man most likely to break the long-standing 400-metre world record of 43.18 seconds, Wayde Van Niekerk, has other things on his mind.

“At this very moment it’s all about improving myself. The world record is there. I don’t see it as a target for myself. I see growth in my own physical ability as my target and my goal,” the 23-year-old said at the Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange.

“So, if that means at the end of my career I have the world record, that means through my goal I have achieved it,” he noted.

American great Michael Johnson has the existing 400m world record, set 17 years ago in 1999. Johnson lost his 200m world record to Usain Bolt in 2008.

Van Niekerk has a personal best of 43.48 seconds, the sixth fastest time in history. Only three men have gone faster. Americans Johnson (43.18, 43.39, 43.44); Harry “Butch” Reynolds (43.29); and Jeremy Wariner (43.45).

“At this moment, I am really focused on myself as an individual, than chasing other times. I see it as limiting myself. I know what I am capable of doing, so I am just going out there to improve myself with every race,” said Van Niekerk.

Of contemporary runners, Van Niekerk’s best is ahead of American Lashawn Merritt with 43.65; Isaac Makwala of Botswana with 43.72 and Grenada’s Kirani James with 43.74 seconds.

The South African star is the first man in history to run the 100m under 10 seconds (9.98); the 200m under 20 seconds (19.94) and the 400m under 44 seconds (43.48).

With his impressive 100m speed, Van Niekerk has taken the 400m running to a different level, although at times he says he has felt like quitting, because of the difficulty training for the event.

“I doubt there is a day that goes by I feel like quitting. I am always on the edge of wanting to quit. But I see the 400m as a blessing to me,” he explained.

“I fell in love with the sports doing 100m and 200, that’s what I love and I enjoy doing. But I see the 400m as a blessing from the Lord. I never dreamt of doing 400m, but I am running times that I never ever thought I would do,” he told reporters and editors at the Monday Exchange.

“So I am just trying to use the opportunities that I have in the 400m and try and achieve as much as I can while I have the opportunities,” he reiterated.

Van Niekerk, who will be participating at the Racers Grand Prix on Saturday, arrived in the island on June 4 for a week-long training stint with Usain Bolt and his Racers’ teammates under the watchful eyes of head coach Glen Mills.

“I see South Africa quite similar to Jamaica,” said Van Niekerk. “I felt at home immediately when I got over here, so it wasn’t really much of an adjustment for me.”

The well-spoken, mild-mannered runner, who is a beast on the track, said his journey into track and field is somewhat of a coincidence.

“I grew up in a sporting family so I literally took part in everything from rugby, cricket and football, you name it, I tried it out,” he revealed.

“But I think around about 2010, I had the opportunity to represent my country and I think that’s what signed the deal for me in track and field, is the fact that I came out quite raw and I qualified for the World Junior in Canada and from there I have never looked back,” he added.

“I have put in the hard work and tried making a career out of it and it’s going quite well for me,” said Van Niekerk.

If Mills can improve the talented Van Niekerk any further, then the long-standing 400m world record of 43.18 seconds could definitely be under threat in the near future.

At the Racers Grand Prix, Van Niekerk will be running the 300m against Lashawn Merritt and Isaac Makwala. The unofficial world record of 30.85, done by Michael Johnson in 2000, could also be in danger. Van Niekerk has a best time of 31.63 seconds.