Former Nigerian international and national hurdles champion Henry Amike has backed current national record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel to make the final of the Paris 2024 400mh and also make history.
Amike who is in the French capital to watch the athletics events, said Nathaniel has a realistic chance of being on the podium based on his performance so far. Nathaniel running in the heats of the 400mh Monday, proved that he is not too far from achieving the feat after he posted 48.38 seconds just shy of his 48.00 seconds personal best in his heat. He had the fourth fastest time in the heats
“He can make it to the final and he would make his if can be on the podium,” Amike said.
Nathaniel will run again in the semi-final on Wednesday. He is the third Nigerian 400m hurdler to reach the semi-final of the Olympics after Ameachi Morton in London 2012 and Amike in Los Angeles 1984.
He practically has to pull the rabbit from the hat to come with 47 seconds run to be guaranteed a podium finish.