Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered a commanding performance to win gold in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Friday, strengthening Team Nigeria’s impressive medal haul at the competition.
Nathaniel powered away from the field in the closing stages to cross the finish line in 48.47 seconds, comfortably ahead of England’s Jake Minshull, who claimed silver in 48.99 seconds, while Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson secured bronze in 49.22 seconds.
The victory increased Nigeria’s gold medal tally to nine at the Games, underlining the country’s strong showing across multiple sporting disciplines.
The 23-year-old entered the final as the favourite after producing the fastest qualifying time in the heats, winning Heat Two in 48.69 seconds ahead of Minshull (48.88 seconds) and India’s Santhosh Tamilarasan (49.51 seconds).
Nathaniel arrived in Glasgow with an impressive pedigree, having established himself among the world’s leading 400m hurdlers over the past four years. The Nigerian record holder, with a personal best of 47.49 seconds, reached the semi-finals of the World Athletics Championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
His rise to prominence began at Baylor University in Texas, where he broke the Nigerian record as a freshman in 2022 before becoming the institution’s first national champion in the event. He captured the 2025 NCAA Outdoor title in a personal best of 47.49 seconds and was named the men’s Track Athlete of the Year.
Nathaniel, who hails from Delta State and relocated to the United States in 2022 to pursue his athletics career, maintained his consistency throughout the Glasgow Games before sealing the Commonwealth title with an accomplished display in the final.
Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian sprinter Udodi Onwuzurike claimed silver in the men’s 200 metres after producing a season’s best performance.
Onwuzurike crossed the finish line in 20.09 seconds, finishing behind South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who won gold in 19.96 seconds. Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor took bronze in 20.11 seconds.
The 23-year-old Nigerian ran an excellent bend before holding off a late challenge from Taylor in the closing metres to secure second place.
Nathaniel’s gold and Onwuzurike’s silver further boosted Nigeria’s medal tally as Team Nigeria continued its impressive campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
