World Championships: Ezekiel Nathaniel Makes History As First Nigerian In 400m Hurdles Final Since 1987

Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has written his name into the history books after storming into the men’s 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Wednesday’s feat saw him becoming the first Nigerian man to achieve the feat since Henry Amike in 1987.

The 21-year-old ran the race of his life in Wednesday’s semifinal, powering to victory in 47.47 seconds to secure automatic qualification.

He crossed the line ahead of Qatar’s Ismail Abakar, who clocked a personal best of 47.61s, while the United States’ Caleb Dean finished third in 47.85s.

Nathaniel’s breakthrough continues what has been a remarkable season for the University of Baylor athlete.

Already Nigeria’s national record holder in the event, he underlined his steady rise on the global stage by producing a composed run that highlighted both his speed and tactical maturity.

Just two days earlier, Nathaniel had impressed in the heats with a time of 48.37s, finishing ahead of Dean and Brazil’s Francisco Dos Reis Viana to advance to the semifinals. Now, by reaching the final, he has reignited Nigeria’s presence in one of athletics’ most demanding disciplines, a stage the country has not graced in nearly four decades.

His achievement recalls the exploits of Henry Amike, who reached the men’s 400m hurdles final at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, a landmark moment that stood unmatched until Nathaniel’s heroics in Tokyo.

With the final ahead, the young hurdler now faces the biggest race of his career. Lining up against some of the world’s finest, including reigning champions and Olympic medalists, Nathaniel will be chasing more than just history—he will be pushing for a podium finish.

This could transform his career and further elevate Nigeria’s status on the global athletics stage.

PREMIUM TIMES