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Ezekiel Nathaniel set a Nigerian 400m hurdles record with 47.11 at Tokyo 2025.
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He finished fourth in a dramatic final.
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Just 0.05 seconds kept him from bronze.
Ezekiel Nathaniel raced into Nigerian athletics history at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, running a blistering 47.11 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles final to set a new national record and finish just outside the medals in fourth.
Also Read: Ezekiel Nathaniel Puts Nigeria in 400m Hurdles Final After 38 Years
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The final was dramatic. American Rai Benjamin crossed first but was initially disqualified for a lane infringement, briefly elevating Nathaniel to bronze before an appeal reversed the decision and returned Benjamin to gold.
Benjamin’s winning time was officially 46.52 seconds.
Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba took bronze in 47.06, leaving Nathaniel a mere 0.05 seconds short of a podium place — a tiny margin in a fierce world final.
At 21, Nathaniel showed he belongs among the world’s best.
Moreover, his national record and composed run under pressure offer clear proof that Nigerian hurdling has a bright future on the global stage.
This performance should be a springboard. With small gains, Nathaniel can turn near-misses into medals at the next major championships, and fans will watch closely as he builds on this landmark run.
