Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel etched his name in history on Wednesday as he advanced to the final of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Championships, becoming the first Nigerian man to achieve the feat since Henry Amike in 1987.
Nathaniel, 21, won Semifinal 2 in breathtaking fashion, clocking a sensational 47.47 seconds — the fastest time across all semifinal heats.
His commanding display saw him finish ahead of Qatar’s Ismail Abakar, who set a personal best of 47.61 seconds, and the United States’ Caleb Dean, who crossed in 47.85 seconds.
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With this performance, Nathaniel not only broke Nigeria’s 37-year drought in the event but also established himself as a major contender for the gold medal in the final.
The young hurdler’s achievement has sparked excitement among Nigerian athletics fans, who are hopeful he can go one step further and secure the nation’s first-ever medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Championships.