Ezekiel Eyes Faster Times, History at World Championships After Diamond League Breakthrough

In the electrifying atmosphere of the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered a performance that turned heads and raised expectations.

Clocking a blistering 47.31 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles—a new national record—Nathaniel surged to second place behind Olympic champion Karsten Warholm, and more importantly, reignited his belief in what’s possible.

‘Coming in here I expected to run fast,’ Nathaniel said, visibly relieved and energized after the race. ‘But then I had some issues, like a headache and I was not quite sure how I would run, but it went well.’

Despite battling physical discomfort, Nathaniel’s resilience shone through. His ability to rise to the occasion against elite competition underscored a season-long hunger for high-level rivalry.

‘It definitely helps me to run against guys like Karsten, to have someone to chase. For much of the year I felt I just ran by myself.’

That sense of isolation may have fueled his fire, but it’s clear that the presence of world-class athletes has sharpened his edge. With the World Championships looming, Nathaniel isn’t just satisfied with his record-breaking run—he’s aiming higher.

‘I am going to the World Championships and I expect to run even faster there,’ he promised.

And if he does, it won’t just be a personal triumph—it will be a historic one.

Nathaniel is poised to become the first Nigerian in 38 years to compete in the final of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships.

The last to do so was Henry Amike, who finished sixth in Rome 1987 with a time of 48.63 seconds. Amike’s long-standing national record of 48.50 seconds endured for decades—until Nathaniel shattered it in 2022, becoming the first Nigerian ever to break the 48-second barrier in the event.