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Ezekiel Nathaniel has etched his name into Nigerian athletics history after becoming the first Nigerian athlete to win gold in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games, delivering a stunning performance in Glasgow.
Nathaniel crossed the finish line in 48.47 seconds to secure the title, marking a dramatic turnaround from his sixth-place finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. His victory not only secured a landmark individual achievement but also boosted Nigeria’s medal haul at the competition.
England’s Jake Minshull claimed the silver medal after finishing in 48.99 seconds, while Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson took bronze with a time of 49.22 seconds. Nigeria had earlier recorded podium finishes through Tobi Amusan and Kayinsola Ajayi, who both won bronze medals in their respective events.
The triumph capped a remarkable rise for Nathaniel, whose development accelerated during his time at Baylor University in Texas. As a freshman in May 2022, he won the Big 12 Conference men’s 400m hurdles title with a personal best of 48.42 seconds, breaking the Nigerian national record previously held by Henry Amike since 1987.
Since then, Nathaniel has continued to establish himself among the world’s elite hurdlers. In 2025, he set a new Nigerian record in the 400m hurdles while finishing fourth at the World Championships. He also set a new African indoor record in the 400m, highlighting his growing versatility and dominance across the distance.
With his Commonwealth Games victory, Nathaniel has positioned himself as a serious contender for future global honours. The Nigerian star is now on the verge of rewriting African athletics history, having recorded a personal best of 47.11 seconds in the 400m hurdles — just 0.01 seconds shy of the long-standing African record of 47.10 seconds set by Samuel Matete more than three decades ago.
Nathaniel’s rapid progression has made him one of Nigeria’s brightest athletics prospects, with the potential to challenge some of the most enduring records in the sport.
