Chijioke Gabriel
Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has secured a historic bronze medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships, following the dramatic disqualification of America’s Rai Benjamin.
Nathaniel, just 21 years old, clocked a blistering 47.11 seconds, setting a new Nigerian national record and etching his name in history as the country’s first-ever medalist in the event.
The young hurdler ran with remarkable composure on the global stage, powering through a star-studded field and even finishing ahead of Norway’s Olympic champion and former world record holder, Karsten Warholm.
Initially, Rai Benjamin of the United States claimed gold with a time of 46.54 seconds, followed by Brazil’s Alison dos Santos in 46.84 seconds, and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba in 47.06 seconds. However, Benjamin was later disqualified for displacing a hurdle and impeding another athlete, which reshuffled the podium and upgraded Nathaniel to bronze.
This breakthrough represents both triumph and history for Nigeria. Nathaniel’s time not only shattered his previous record but also confirmed him among the fastest men ever in the event. It also ended a 38-year drought since Henry Amike last reached a World Championships final in 1987, where he finished sixth.
Nathaniel’s journey — from collegiate competitions in the United States to the global stage — highlights his relentless hard work and underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in world athletics.
With the Paris 2028 Olympics and future championships ahead, his record-breaking bronze suggests that even greater achievements lie in store.
At just 21, Ezekiel Nathaniel’s medal is more than a personal milestone — it is a defining chapter in Nigeria’s athletics history and a powerful sign of brighter days to come.