Nigeria’s rising track star Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered a performance for the history books at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, breaking the national 400 metres hurdles record with a stunning 47.11 seconds.
His run not only placed him fourth in the final but also made him the first Nigerian to reach a men’s 400m hurdles World Championship final since 1987, underlining his growing status on the global stage.
How the Race Unfolded
The Tokyo final was stacked with world-class talent, including pre-race favorite Rai Benjamin of the USA, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba. Nathaniel started strong, keeping pace through the opening 300 metres. In the final stretch, Benjamin surged ahead, crossing the line first in 46.52 seconds.
Dos Santos followed for silver, while Samba edged out Nathaniel by just 0.05 seconds to claim bronze. Nathaniel’s 47.11s shattered his previous personal best and set a new Nigerian record, a milestone achievement for the 21-year-old.
The Decisive Drama
Moments after the finish, chaos struck when Rai Benjamin was initially disqualified for clipping the last hurdle, which caused another hurdle in Nathaniel’s lane to topple – a violation under IAAF rules.
This sparked excitement among Nigerian fans as it appeared Nathaniel had been upgraded to bronze, marking a historic medal moment. However, following an urgent review and appeal, the ruling was overturned. Benjamin was reinstated as gold medallist, leaving Nathaniel officially in fourth place.
Beyond the Finish Line
While missing out on a medal by a fraction of a second was heartbreaking, Nathaniel’s performance was a breakthrough for Nigerian athletics. By becoming the first Nigerian man to reach the 400m hurdles World Championship final since 1987, he reignited hopes for the nation in an event long dominated by global powerhouses.
His new national record of 47.11s places him firmly among the world’s elite and signals that Nigeria has a genuine contender for future Olympic and World titles.
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