Tokyo 2025: Ezekiel Nathaniel makes history as Nigeria's first 400mH world championships finalist in 38 years

National record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel continues to shine at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, clocking the overall fastest time in the semifinals to become Nigeria's first 400mH finalist in 38 years.

Competing in semifinal 2 against a respectable field of hurdlers, the 22-year-old showed his prowess with a well-executed race for victory in a blistering 47.47s, beating Qatar's Ismail Abakar, who ran a new Personal Best (PB) of 47.61s, while Caleb Dean finished third in 47.85s.

His heat was the fastest of all semifinal races, as all three booked their spots in the final.

World Record holder Karsten Warholm finished second in his semifinal heat behind Qatar's Abdulrahman Samba (47.63s), while American Rai Benjamin won the third heat in 47.95s.

With his exceptional performance, Nathaniel not only stands as a favourite for a medal but has become the first Nigerian man to qualify for the final of the 400m hurdles since Henry Amike attained the feat 38 years ago in Rome, Italy, where he finished a decent sixth.

The talented young athlete, after a long collegiate season and becoming the NCAA champion, now aims to be the first Nigerian and fifth African to win a medal at the World Championships.

If he does, Nathaniel will follow the footsteps of Zambian Samuel Matete, who won gold in 1991 and silver in 1993 and 1995; South African duo Llewellyn Herbert, who won silver in 1997, and L.J. van Zyl, who claimed bronze in 2011; as well as Kenyan Nicholas Bett (now late), who won gold in 2015.

Nathaniel will have to smash his Nigerian record of 47.31s and perhaps Matete's 47.10s African Record to attain this feat, which will put him on the high pedestal of the world's best hurdlers on the all-time list.