CWG: Ezekiel Nathaniel Wins Nigeria’s First-Ever Men’s 400m Hurdles Gold

Ezekiel Nathaniel has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win the gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The 23-year-old produced a dominant performance at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday, crossing the finish line in 48.47 seconds to secure the landmark victory and add another gold medal to Team Nigeria’s impressive campaign.

Nathaniel entered the final as one of the favourites and lived up to expectations, maintaining his composure throughout the race before pulling away from the field in the closing stages.

England’s Jake Minshull finished second to claim the silver medal, while Jamaica’s Assnie Wilson settled for bronze.

The victory ended Nigeria’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games title in the event.

Before Nathaniel’s triumph, the country’s best performance in the men’s 400m hurdles came in 1966, when Kingsley Agbabokha won silver in the event, then contested as the 440 yards hurdles.

Nathaniel’s success also marked Nigeria’s first track gold medal at the Glasgow Games after some of the nation’s biggest athletics stars narrowly missed out on top honours.

World record holder Tobi Amusan finished with bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles after failing to defend her Commonwealth title, while sprint sensation Kayinsola Ajayi also claimed bronze in his event.

The latest victory further strengthened Nigeria’s position among the leading nations at the Games, with the country continuing to deliver strong performances across athletics, para sports, weightlifting, boxing and basketball.

Nathaniel’s achievement is another milestone in what has been an outstanding season for the young hurdler, who has continued to establish himself among the world’s elite in the event through consistent performances on the international circuit.

His victory was celebrated by teammates and officials, who described it as a historic breakthrough for Nigerian athletics.

With several finals still to come before the Games conclude, Team Nigeria remains hopeful of adding more medals to its tally.

Nathaniel’s gold provides another major boost to the country’s campaign and reinforces Nigeria’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s strongest athletics nations on the global stage.