Ezekiel Nathaniel made history for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, celebrating after winning the men’s 400m hurdles final on day eight of the athletics programme at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
Nathaniel claims historic Commonwealth title
The 23-year-old became the first Nigerian to secure Commonwealth gold in the men’s 400-metre hurdles. He completed Friday’s final in 48.47 seconds at the Glasgow venue in Scotland.
Nigeria’s previous best result in the event came in 1966, when Kingsley Agbabokha took silver. The discipline was known at that time by the outdated title of the 440 yards hurdles.
Favourite delivers after previous disappointment
Nathaniel responded emphatically to the sixth-place result he recorded four years earlier. Despite carrying the weight of entering the race as the leading contender, he remained composed and finished well clear of the rest of the field.
- England’s Jake Minshull collected the silver medal.
- Jamaica’s Assnie Wilson completed the podium with bronze.
Gold lifts Nigeria’s Glasgow medal count
The triumph represented Nigeria’s first athletics gold in Glasgow. It came after Tobi Amusan and Kayinsola Ajayi, both regarded as strong contenders in their respective events, had each settled for bronze.
Nathaniel’s success moved Nigeria to 17 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games: nine gold, five silver and three bronze.
