Ezekiel Nathaniel has won gold in the 400m hurdles final at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He claimed gold by winning the race with a time of 48.47s, finishing well ahead of England’s Jake Minshull who posted 48.99s, and Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson who took bronze in 49.22s.
Victory makes Nathaniel the first Nigerian athlete in Commonwealth Games history to win a gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Nathaniel was the pre-championship favourite in the event, and he was in control of the race from the sound of the gun to the finish line.
He claimed his first medal in the event at the Commonwealth Games after finishing in sixth place in 2022.
It is also Nigeria’s first medal in the event in 60 years when Kingsley Agbabokha won silver at the Kingston Games.
The 23-year-old made an explosive start and quickly settled into rhythm before pulling away from the field to ensure a smooth end to the race and reach the finish line ahead of other competitors.
He was the only athlete to break the 49-second barrier in the final.
It is Nigeria’s third gold medal in athletics and para athletics, and ninth in the events.
Nigeria has claimed a total of 18 medals at the Commonwealth Games so far, with nine gold six silver and three bronze medals.