Nathaniel sets new Nigerian 400mh record in Tokyo

Ezekiel Nathaniel made history for Nigeria at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, smashing the national record in the men’s 400m hurdles final with a scorching 47.11 seconds.

For a brief moment, the 21-year-old was celebrated as a World Championship bronze medalist after American star Rai Benjamin, who had initially won the race, was sensationally disqualified for a lane infringement.

But the drama didn’t end there. Following a successful appeal, Benjamin’s gold was reinstated with a winning time of 46.54 seconds, pushing Nathaniel back to fourth place.

Brazil’s Alison dos Santos claimed silver in 46.84s, while Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba snatched bronze in 47.06s, just 0.05s ahead of Nathaniel.

Despite the heartbreak, Nathaniel’s feat has cemented his place among the world’s elite hurdlers, raising hopes of a future podium finish for Nigeria on the global stage.