Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has etched his name into the history books after smashing the national record in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the World Championships in Tokyo.
The 21-year-old sensation clocked an astonishing 47.11 seconds to finish in fourth place, agonizingly just 0.05 seconds shy of the podium.
Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, Nathaniel’s performance cemented him as a record holder and Nigeria’s brightest star in the event.
The result extends the wait for a Nigerian male athlete to secure a World Championship medal—an achievement last claimed by Francis Obikwelu in 1999.
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Athletics fans across Nigeria, however, are celebrating Nathaniel’s breakthrough, praising his resilience and talent. “Chin up champ, Naija will get them next time,” one supporter remarked, echoing the national sentiment of pride and optimism.
Nathaniel’s record-breaking run marks a significant milestone in Nigerian athletics and signals that the country is on the cusp of reclaiming global glory in track and field.