Nigeria’s Nathaniel Tipped for 400m Hurdles Medal at World Championships

Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has been tipped as a strong contender for a podium finish in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, after a Kenyan official singled him out as one to watch, Sport360NG reports.

Speaking to Making of Champs upon arrival at Narita International Airport, the Kenyan representative admitted his priority remained his own athletes but said he was also rooting for the Nigerian star.

“As much as I want all the medals for my team, I also hope Nathaniel wins one for Nigeria, whether gold, silver, or bronze. He deserves it for his hard work,” he said.

Explaining his choice, the official pointed to Nathaniel’s reliability and steady rise over the past few seasons. “I’ve watched him in several races, and he has consistently proven himself as one of the best in recent years,” he added.

Nathaniel, 22, heads to Tokyo as one of Africa’s brightest medal hopes. Earlier this summer, he lowered his own Nigerian record at the Silesia Diamond League with a time of 47.31 seconds, finishing behind only world record-holder Karsten Warholm and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba. That performance currently ranks him fifth in the world this season.

The recent Baylor University graduate also dominated the American collegiate circuit, staying unbeaten while recording the third-fastest time in NCAA history. Speaking in August, he said he was confident of producing even faster times at the Championships.

“I feel like I’m running well now, but I still have more to give. I’m ready to push harder,” Nathaniel told the Diamond League media.

This season he has already raced against some of the world’s elite hurdlers, including Alison dos Santos, Rai Benjamin, and Warholm, experiences he believes have helped sharpen his edge. “Competing with these professionals feels different. It pushes me and gives me confidence,” he said.

The men’s 400m hurdles is expected to be one of the highlights in Tokyo, featuring a field led by Warholm, who clocked 46.28s in Poland to head the world list, Olympic champion Benjamin, and 2022 world champion Dos Santos.

With the heats scheduled for September 15, semi-finals on September 17, and the final set for September 19, Nathaniel will aim to turn that growing belief into Nigeria’s first-ever global medal in the event.