Tokyo 2025 WAC: 22-year-old Ezekiel Nathaniel Makes History, Nigeria’s 2nd Medal Looms
- Sprinter Ezekiel Nathaniel has cruised into the final of the 400 metres hurdles at the World Championship
- He is aiming to win Nigeria’s second medal at the event after Tobi Amusan won silver in the 100m hurdles
- Nathaniel will compete against Ismail Abakar, Abderrahman Samba, Karsten Warholm, others
- Journalist Martin Moses tipped Nathaniel for greater things after his performance in Tokyo this year
Ezekiel Nathaniel stormed into the final of the men's 400 metres hurdles at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 and is on course to win Nigeria's second medal after Tobi Amusan.
Nathaniel has failed to make the final of the event in the past two tournaments, but his determination has propelled him to reach the final this year.
Source: Getty Images
He could become Nigeria’s second medalist at the event in Japan after Tobi Amusan won the silver medal in the women's 100 metres hurdles.
Amusan moved on from the disappointment of Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan to claim victory at the same venue five years later.
Ezekiel Nathaniel names national history
According to Making of Champions, Nathaniel became the first Nigerian to reach the final in 38 years. World Athletics says the last Nigerian to reach the final of the men's 400 metres hurdles was Henry Amike in 1987, who finished sixth in Rome.
The 22-year-old University of Baylor student was not even born when Amike achieved this feat in 1987, but is on course to surpass Amike’s sixth-place finish.
He is also the first African to reach the final since Algeria’s Abdelmalik Lahoulou in 2019, and could become the first African to get a podium finish since the late Nicolas Bett of Kenya won gold in 2015.
Nathaniel ran across the line in 47.47 seconds, the fastest time across all the semi-final heats, stirring up Nigerian’s hopes that he could win a medal.
@MrNomson wrote:
“He will win us our second medal 🙏.”
@obaroddy wrote:
“Though he has world record holder Warholm and Benjamin to contend with in the final, but finishing with the fastest qualifying time is all I need to know he has what it takes, and I'm so rooting for him.”
@arowolek wrote:
“Wow! He returned the fastest time in all the three heats. That is a potential medal hope. Congratulations to him.”
@zeezoe13 wrote:
“This is a great feat. Most people don't know how hard the 400m Hurdle race is. It is truly a test of agility and endurance. Up Naija!!!”
@nnamdikanaga wrote:
“He had the fastest qualifying time too. I believe there’s so much in the tank. This final gon be 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Go Nathaniel.”
Source: Getty Images
@UnofficialSIRS wrote:
“Remember when that Kenyan official mentioned him as the prospect he expects to finish strong...people have been observing his meteoric rise.”
He will compete in the final on Friday against Ismail Abakar, Abderrahman Samba, Karsten Warholm, Emil Agyekum, Caleb Dean, Rai Benjamin and Alison Dos Santos.
The future is bright for Nathaniel - Martin Moses
Top journalist Martin Moses, speaking from the National Stadium in Tokyo, applauded Ezekiel, particularly for his honesty with the Rai Benjamin incident.
“Nathaniel is a fantastic upcoming sprinter that we really need to look at," he told Legit.ng.
“It's very unfortunate for him that he didn't get a podium finish, even with what happened to Rai Benjamin over his disqualification and reinstatement.
“Credit to Nathaniel because he also said that Rai Benjamin did not infringe on him in any way, because many thought he did after knocking down the last hurdle.”
Moses believes that the 22-year-old needs to keep his head up and do the right things, and soon, he will start making podium finishes.
“Being number 4 in the world because he's the fourth best hurdler in the world, it's good, he just needs to build on that going into next season, he needs to break the monopoly held by the top three and immerse himself there,” he continued.
“Come next season, if he keeps doing the right thing, we might start talking about him among the top three.”
Tobi Amusan's prize money at World Championship
Legit.ng reported how much Tobi Amusan earned after winning a silver medal in the women's 100 metres hurdles at the ongoing World Championship.
Tobi Express earned the official prize money of $35,000 for finishing second, as well as Nigeria’s outfitter Hiracer’s $20,000 for a silver medal.
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Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
