Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel narrowly missed out on a medal in the men’s 400m hurdles final in Tokyo but made history by setting a new national record of 47.11 seconds.
The 21-year-old, who began his career as an 800m runner, finished fifth overall but said his performance was a sign of greater achievements ahead.
“I still have a lot of potential. I am pleased because I did my best and I ran a personal record,” Nathaniel said. “I hope this performance will inspire young Nigerian athletes. This is a great opportunity to learn from the world’s best.”
How the Race Unfolded
Nathaniel crossed the line just behind Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.06), who took bronze. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, earned silver in 46.84. Norway’s Karsten Warholm, chasing a fourth world crown, finished a surprising fifth in 47.58.
The gold medal went to Olympic champion Rai Benjamin of the United States, who finally secured his first world title after two silvers and a bronze. He clocked 46.52 seconds but endured a tense moment after being briefly disqualified for hitting the last hurdle and affecting other runners.
