Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel carved his name into the history books by advancing to the men’s 400 m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a feat no Nigerian had achieved since 1987. Nathaniel recorded a personal and national record of 47.11 seconds, narrowly missing a podium finish but showcasing world-class speed and technique.
Nathaniel’s performance demonstrated Nigeria’s growing presence in sprint hurdles and highlighted the effectiveness of long-term development programs in athletics. Speaking after the race, he said:
“Breaking the national record in a World Championship final is an incredible feeling. I hope this inspires more young Nigerian hurdlers to aim high.”
