Ezekiel Nathaniel has shattered the Nigerian men’s 400m hurdles record with a spectacular run of 47.11 seconds in the final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 22-year-old narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth, but his performance marks a milestone in Nigerian track and field history.
Earlier in the season, Nathaniel held the national record at 47.31 seconds, set in August 2025 in Poland. The new mark in Tokyo marks an improvement of 0.20 seconds.
During the final, Nathaniel was briefly elevated to the bronze position after initial disqualification of the race winner, Rai Benjamin — a decision that was later reversed on appeal, restoring the original result. This fluctuation cost Nathaniel a chance at a podium finish.
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Nathaniel’s 47.11 not only sets a new national benchmark but also places him among the fastest in the world this season. He trailed only behind the medalists: Rai Benjamin (gold, 46.52s), Alison dos Santos (silver, 46.84s), and Abderrahman Samba (bronze, 47.06s).
Despite the heartbreak of narrowly missing a medal, Nathaniel’s achievement is being celebrated as a breakthrough. He praised Benjamin’s performance, saying the American “deserved that gold,” even though Nathaniel himself was caught in the drama.
