Ezekiel Nathaniel, the current national record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, has his eyes set on the gold medal after successfully qualifying for the semi-finals of the event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Monday, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
Nathaniel displayed an impressive performance from lane three, securing the second spot with a time of 48.38s, marking his fourth fastest time ever, thus advancing to the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday.
The race was won by Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke in 48.17s, while France’s Wilfried Happio secured the final automatic qualification spot with a time of 48.42s.
Notably, Nathaniel becomes the first Nigerian athlete in 12 years to reach the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at the Olympics. The 21-year-old is determined to outperform past Nigerian athletes like Amaechi Morton at London 2012 and Henry Amike at Los Angeles 1984.
Reflecting on his achievement, Nathaniel expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s a dream come true to be running at the Olympics. I gave my best from lane three, maintained my pace, and felt confident throughout the race. Now, I look forward to the semifinals.”
With a focus on the upcoming final on Wednesday, Nathaniel, who is the reigning national champion, remains optimistic about his prospects. He shared, “My previous experiences have instilled courage in me, and I feel well-prepared for the competition. I am fully focused on winning the gold medal.”
Having achieved notable milestones this season, including breaking his national record, Olympic qualification, and clinching bronze at the NCAA Championships, Nathaniel is proud of his progress. He remarked, “I take pride in my accomplishments so far and believe there is still more in store for me.”