7th August, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel failed to qualify for the 400m hurdles final on Wednesday as he crashed out in the semi-finals.
Nathaniel had broken a 12-year record at the Olympic Games in Paris, qualifying for the semifinals of the men’s 400m hurdles event.
He became the first Nigerian athlete in 12 years to reach the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at the Olympics. He had secured his spot by finishing 2nd in heat 4 with a time of 48.32 seconds, earning an automatic qualification.
But on Wednesday, Nathaniel placed fifth in the first semi-final race in a time of 48.65 seconds, a far cry of what he ran in the heat.
Karsten Warholm of Norway won the race in a time of 47.67 seconds, while Clement Ducos of France came second in a time of 47.85 seconds and Alison dos Santos coming third in a time of 47.95 seconds.
