Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has etched his name into athletics history after qualifying for the men’s 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — the first Nigerian to achieve this feat since 1987.

The 21-year-old Baylor University athlete produced the race of his life on Wednesday, winning his semifinal in a blistering 47.47 seconds to secure automatic qualification. He crossed the line ahead of Qatar’s Ismail Abakar, who ran a personal best of 47.61 seconds, while the USA’s Caleb Dean finished third in 47.85 seconds.

Nathaniel’s achievement marks Nigeria’s return to the elite stage of one of the most demanding disciplines in athletics. It recalls the exploits of Henry Amike, who reached the men’s 400m hurdles final at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.

The national record holder has enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season. Just two days earlier, he impressed in the heats with a time of 48.37 seconds, finishing ahead of Dean and Brazil’s Francisco Dos Reis Viana to advance to the semifinals.

His consistent performances highlight his rapid rise on the global stage, demonstrating both speed and tactical maturity. By reaching the final, Nathaniel has reignited Nigeria’s presence in the event and boosted hopes of a podium finish.

With the final looming, the young hurdler now faces the biggest race of his career. Standing alongside reigning champions and Olympic medalists, Nathaniel is not only chasing history but also aiming to cement Nigeria’s place among the world’s athletics powerhouses.