Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered one of Nigeria’s standout performances at the Commonwealth Games, powering to gold in the men’s 400m hurdles with a commanding run that earned the country its ninth gold medal of the competition.
The Nigerian star crossed the finish line in 48.47 seconds after taking control of the race, becoming the first Nigerian man to win the Commonwealth Games title in the 400m hurdles.
Nathaniel’s victory also ended a 16-year wait for a Nigerian medal in the event, with the country’s previous podium finish coming through Ajoke Odumosu at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The gold medal is another major step in the 22-year-old’s impressive rise, reinforcing his status as one of Nigeria’s brightest talents on the track.
Nigeria’s celebrations did not end there, as Udodi Onwuzuruike also produced an encouraging display in the men’s 200m final. The sprinter claimed bronze in a season’s best time of 20.09 seconds, securing his first individual Commonwealth Games medal.
Nathaniel’s gold lifted Nigeria to nine gold medals, six silver and three bronze at the Commonwealth Games, capping another successful day for Team Nigeria as the country maintained its place among the top five nations on the medal table.
