By Boluwatife Kehinde
Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel etched his name into the record books after winning bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships, following the dramatic disqualification of American favourite Rai Benjamin.
The 21-year-old stormed to a time of 47.11 seconds, a blistering performance that not only secured third place but also set a new Nigerian national record. His feat makes him the country’s first-ever medallist in the 400m hurdles at the global stage.
Athletics platform Making of Champions confirmed the development in a post on X, writing: “Huge drama in Tokyo! Rai Benjamin has been disqualified after initially winning the men’s 400mH final for displacing a hurdle and impacting another athlete. Ezekiel Nathaniel is now upgraded to bronze with his Nigerian Record of 47.11s.”
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Benjamin had initially crossed the line in 46.54s, ahead of Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (46.84s) and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.06s).
However, his disqualification reshuffled the podium, elevating Nathaniel into medal contention.
Competing with composure in a star-studded field, Nathaniel even finished ahead of Norway’s Olympic champion and former world record holder, Karsten Warholm. His performance has been hailed as one of the breakthroughs of the championships.
Nathaniel’s medal ends a 38-year drought for Nigeria in this event, dating back to Henry Amike’s sixth-place finish at the 1987 World Championships. By shattering his own national record, he has firmly established himself among the fastest men in the discipline and as a rising star in world athletics.
His journey from collegiate competition in the United States to global recognition is a story of resilience and persistence. The bronze medal stands not only as a personal triumph but also as a powerful statement about Nigeria’s potential on the international stage.
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With the Paris 2028 Olympics and future championships ahead, Nathaniel’s achievement is more than a historic milestone—it signals a new dawn for Nigerian track and field.
