Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel etched his name into the history books on Wednesday at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, after storming into the men’s 400m hurdles final with a sensational semifinal performance.
The Nigerian record holder and NCAA champion seized control of Semifinal 2 from the start and never looked back, crossing the line in an impressive 47.47 seconds. His time was the fastest across all semifinal races, underscoring his status as a strong medal contender in Thursday’s final.
Nathaniel’s feat makes him the first Nigerian man to reach the 400m hurdles final at the World Championships since Henry Amike achieved the milestone in 1987 — ending a 38-year wait.
It was also a day of promise for Nigeria’s sprint sensation, Udodi Onwuzurike, who opened his campaign in the men’s 200m with a composed performance. The national champion clocked 20.27 seconds to finish second in his heat, earning an automatic spot in the semifinals.
Onwuzurike finished just behind American star Kenneth Bednarek, who won in 19.98 seconds, while South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile also posted 20.27 seconds to place third.
With Nathaniel blazing a historic trail in the hurdles and Onwuzurike advancing confidently in the sprints, Nigerian athletics fans have every reason to celebrate as the World Championships in Tokyo enter an exciting phase.
SIGNED:
Kola Daniel
S.A, Media
Office of the Director-General
National Sports Commission (NSC)
September 17, 2025
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