Nathaniel’s record run inspires young Nigerians

Ezekiel Nathaniel, Nigeria’s new star in the 400m hurdles, has written his name into the country’s athletics history books even though he narrowly missed out on a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 22-year-old ran the race of his life on Friday night, finishing fourth in the men’s final with a time of 47.11 seconds, a new national record. His performance was not only a personal milestone but also a moment of pride for Nigeria, and Nathaniel himself hopes it will serve as an inspiration to young athletes across the country who dream of making it on the global stage.

The final was electric from start to finish. Nathaniel lined up against some of the world’s best hurdlers, including America’s Rai Benjamin, Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos, and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba. The young Nigerian held his own, storming down the track with a fearless performance that shattered his previous national record of 47.31 seconds set earlier this year. In doing so, he became only the second Nigerian in history to reach the 400m hurdles final at a World Championships after Henry Amike, who did it back in 1987.

After the race, Nathaniel spoke with maturity beyond his years. “I hope this performance will inspire young Nigerian athletes,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to learn from the world’s best athletes. I still have a lot of potential. I am pleased because I did my best and I ran a personal record. For now, I am enjoying the process.” His words reflected not just pride but also the hunger to keep improving, a sign that his journey is only beginning.

The race itself was not without drama. Rai Benjamin finally won his first world championship gold after years of near misses, crossing the line in 46.52 seconds. But there was a moment when it looked like Nathaniel might sneak onto the podium. Benjamin was briefly disqualified after crashing into the final hurdle, an incident that appeared to interfere with other athletes. The decision would have elevated Nathaniel to third place and given Nigeria its second medal of the championships. However, the American’s appeal was upheld, and his gold medal was restored. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos claimed silver in 46.84 seconds, while Abderrahman Samba of Qatar took bronze with 47.06 seconds, leaving Nathaniel just outside the medal places.

Despite the disappointment, Nathaniel took the outcome with grace. “It’s a fair call,” he admitted. “He put in a lot of work to get that medal and if they are trying to rip off from that, I don’t think that’s fair. He didn’t deliberately knock over the hurdle, that could happen to anyone.” Those words captured the sportsmanship that has made him a respected figure even at his young age.

Nathaniel’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in 2003, he initially started out as an 800m runner before switching to the hurdles. In 2022, as a freshman at Baylor University in Texas, he stunned the athletics world by breaking Henry Amike’s long-standing Nigerian record, running 48.42 seconds at the Big 12 Conference meet. That was the moment Nigeria realized a new star had arrived. Since then, he has consistently improved, lowering his times year after year.

This season, his growth reached another level. In June, he won the NCAA Outdoor Championships title in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 47.49 seconds, making him the third fastest man in NCAA history. He also became the first athlete in NCAA history to run a sub-48-second time in the semifinal, clocking 47.86 seconds. By the time he got to Tokyo, he was already being watched closely as one of the fastest improving athletes in the event, and his fourth-place finish only confirmed that he now belongs among the world’s elite.

For Nigeria, Nathaniel’s achievement carries even more weight because the country has been searching for consistency in athletics. Over the years, Nigeria has produced stars like Chioma Ajunwa, Blessing Okagbare, and Tobi Amusan, but the challenge has always been sustaining excellence across generations. Nathaniel’s performance shows that a new wave of talent is emerging, one that can compete on the highest stage and break barriers once thought out of reach. His ability to mix it up with the very best in the world at such a young age points to a bright future not only for him but for Nigerian athletics as a whole.

Nigeria’s campaign in Tokyo ended with only one medal, courtesy of Tobi Amusan, but it was still an improvement from the last World Championships in Budapest where the team left empty-handed. Nathaniel’s near-miss will sting, but it also provides a glimpse of what is possible. With continued support, training, and exposure, athletes like him could turn near misses into podium finishes. For now, the fact that a 22-year-old has set a new national record and matched Henry Amike’s 1987 achievement of reaching the World Championships final is reason enough to celebrate.

Nathaniel himself remains grounded. “I still have a lot of potential. I have it in me and just need to wait for the right time,” he said. That statement sums up both his journey and his outlook. He is not rushing, but he is confident that his time will come. For the young athletes watching him back home in Nigeria, his story is proof that with talent, hard work, and patience, dreams of competing at the very top can become reality.