EZEKIEL Nathaniel was agonisignly close to claiming the bronze medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships today, even as he broke the Nigerian record again.
The 22-year-old, who had the fastest time in the semi-finals on Wednesday (47.47 seconds) to become the first Nigerian in the men’s 400m hurdles final since 1987, clocked a new national record of 47.11s in today’s final finish fourth, breaking the record of 47.31s he set earlier this year.
Nathaniel was only 0.05s outside the medal zone, coming close to becoming the first Nigerian man to win a World Championships medal since Francis Obikwelu in 1999.
The men’s 400m hurdles final was won by United State of America’s Rai Benjamin in 46.54s, with Alison dos Santos of Brazil claiming silver in 46.84s and Abderrahman Samba of Qatar bagging bronze in 47.06s.
World record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway finished fourth behind Nathaniel in 47.58s.
There appeared to have been a reprieve for Nathaniel as Benjamin was initially disqualified for knocking down the final hurdle, but he was shortly reinstated after a review.
If Benjamin’s disqualification had not been overturned, Nathaniel would have been upgraded to bronze.
In the men’s 200m, USA’s Noah Lyles clocked 19.52s to win the final and become the second man in history after the legendary Usain Bolt to win four straight titles in the event.
Kenny Bednarek of the USA came second in 19.58s and Bryan Levell of Jamaica clinched bronze in 19.64s, while Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo placed fourth (19.65s).
On a historic night in Tokyo, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the women’s 200m in 21.68s to become the first American woman to claim the 100m and 200m double in World Athletics Championships history.
Great Britain’s Amy Hunt secured silver in 22.14s, while Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who was aiming for a third consecutive title, settled for bronze in 22.18s.