Ezekiel Nathaniel sets a Nigerian record in the 400m hurdles at Tokyo 2025 but finishes fourth after appeal restores original winner’s gold

Ezekiel Nathaniel record-breaking run at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships has placed Nigeria firmly on the global athletics map.

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The 21-year-old hurdler shattered the national record with a blistering 47.11 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing fourth in a highly competitive final.

Initially, Nathaniel was briefly hailed as the bronze medallist following the disqualification of American Rai Benjamin, the race winner, for lane infringement.

However, an appeal reinstated Benjamin’s gold medal-winning result, pushing Nathaniel back to fourth place.

Benjamin’s winning time was 46.54 seconds, with Brazil’s Alison dos Santos taking silver in 46.84 seconds.

Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba narrowly edged Nathaniel for bronze, clocking 47.06 seconds to Nathaniel’s 47.11 seconds.

Despite missing out on a podium finish, Nathaniel’s record time solidifies his position among the world’s elite hurdlers and sets a new benchmark for Nigerian athletics.

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His performance has ignited hopes for a future global medal and continues to inspire upcoming athletes in the nation.