By Ben Efe 19.9.2025
Nigerian hurdler Ezekiel Nathaniel narrowly missed being on the podium but was pleased to have set a new national record in the final of the men’s 400m hurdles of the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Nathaniel posted 47.11secs to rake up a new personal best, erasing his previous record of 47.10 secs.
Rai Benjamin of the USA clocked 46.52secs season’s best performance to win the gold and confirmed he is the king of the 400m hurdles having won the title at Paris 2024 Olympics. His win was temporarily suspended after he hit the last hurdle and appeared to have moved into the neighbouring lane but was reinstated after a US team appeal.
Brazilian Alison Dos Santos won the silver with 46.84 seconds Abderrahman Samba of Qatar settled for bronze with 47.06 season best to push Nathaniel to fourth place. 2025 world leader and record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway faltered in the contest after kicking the third hurdle. Warholm finished fifth 47.58secs
In the women’s race, Dutch runner Femke Bol pulled away from the pack to win a back-to-back title a world-leading 51.54secs.
Jasmine Jones of the USA, took the silver with a PB of 52.08 while Emma Zapletova of the Slovak Republic earned bronze with a national record of 53.00.
World Athletics Championships: Ezekiel Nathaniel narrowly misses podium…but sets new national record
