Nigerian 400m hurdles sensation Ezekiel Nathaniel has once again raised the bar, breaking his own national record with a spectacular performance at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland. The 22-year-old clocked an impressive 47.31 seconds, lowering his national mark for the fifth time this season and securing second place behind Olympic champion Karsten Warholm, who ran a world-leading 46.28s.
Nathaniel’s stunning time now ranks him fifth in the world this year, further establishing him as one of the sport’s brightest young stars. Despite arriving in Europe just two days before the race and battling illness, he delivered a breakthrough run that surprised even himself.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to run this fast after traveling from Nigeria and feeling unwell. But once I opened up my stride, I felt good. I thank God for this performance,” Nathaniel shared.
The former Baylor University standout has dominated the American collegiate circuit this season, going unbeaten and recording the third-fastest time in NCAA history. Now focused on the World Championships in Tokyo, Nathaniel believes he still has more to give. “I feel like I’m running fast right now, but I have more in the tank. I’m ready to do more,” he said confidently.
Competing against elite hurdlers such as Alison dos Santos, Rai Benjamin, and Abderrahman Samba has also boosted his confidence. “It feels good to finally race with the professionals and measure myself against the best,” he added.
Although he missed out on qualifying for the Zurich Diamond League finals due to his late entry, Nathaniel remains Nigeria’s biggest medal hope for Tokyo. He returns to action at the Athletissima in Lausanne, where he lines up as the favorite against rivals holding slower season’s bests.
With his current form, Nathaniel is undoubtedly a rising global force in the 400m hurdles.
