Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's 400m hurdles final during the athletics event at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, on day eight of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 31, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
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Ezekiel Nathaniel becomes the first Nigerian to win the gold medal in the men’s 400 meters hurdles at the Commonwealth Games (CWG).
The 23-year-old clocked 48.47 seconds in the event final at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday to achieve the feat.
The closest a Nigerian had previously gone to winning the men’s 400m hurdles at the CWG was in 1966 when Kingsley Agbabokha won a silver medal. The event was referred to by its antiquated name of 440 yards hurdles back then.
Winner Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel celebrates after competing in the men’s 400m hurdles final during the athletics event at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, on day eight of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 31, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Nathaniel’s victory flipped the disappointing sixth-place finish he had four years ago.
He finished the race way ahead of the chasing pack and refused to buckle under the immense pressure of being the pre-event favourite. Jake Minshull of England took silver while Jamaica’s Assnie Wilson got the bronze medal.
Nathaniel’s gold is Nigeria’s first on the track in Glasgow after favourites like Tobi Amusan and Kayinsola Ajayi both ended with bronze medals in their respective events.
His victory takes Nigeria’s tally at the 2026 CGW to 17 — nine gold medals, five silver and three bronze.
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