Meeting de Atletismo Madrid: Nathaniel Ezekiel poised to dominate in European debut
Fresh off his professional and global debut at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic—also marking his Diamond League debut—Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel now steps into the European spotlight at the Meeting de Atletismo Madrid this weekend.
In Eugene, Ezekiel made waves by finishing third in the 400m hurdles with an impressive 47.88s, joining an elite club of global hurdlers and firmly cementing his place in the world top 10 rankings.
With the spotlight now shifting to the Meeting de Atletismo Madrid, Ezekiel enters the men’s 400m hurdles as the undisputed favorite.
The event, held at the historic Estadio de Vallehermoso, is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver and runs from Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Ezekiel’s 47.49s personal best makes him the fastest man in the field by a clear margin.
His recent 47.88s third-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic has only heightened expectations.
With five sub-48 performances already this season, Madrid could witness his sixth, further solidifying his status as a medal contender for the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Ezekiel’s performance in Madrid could be the final statement before Tokyo, where he aims to become the first Nigerian man since Henry Amike in 1987 to reach the 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships—and possibly stand on the podium.
