Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered a record-breaking performance in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, setting a new Nigerian record of 47.11s to finish 4th.
The 21-year-old came agonizingly close to a historic podium finish, missing bronze by just 0.05s, which would have made him the first Nigerian man to win a World Championship medal since Francis Obikwelu in 1999.
The gold medal went to Rai Benjamin, who stormed to victory in 46.54s, while Alison dos Santos claimed silver in 46.84s. Abderrahman Samba edged Nathaniel for bronze with 47.06s, as reigning Olympic champion Karsten Warholm followed behind Nathaniel. Nathaniel’s blistering run cements his status as one of Nigeria’s brightest track stars and a rising force on the global stage
