Nathaniel Ezekiel is a Nigerian sprinter and 400-meter hurdler who has established himself as one of Africa’s leading athletes in the event. A Commonwealth champion, NCAA champion, and Nigerian national record holder, Ezekiel has competed successfully at the highest levels of international athletics.

While competing for Baylor University, Ezekiel made an immediate impact in 2022 by winning the Big 12 400-meter hurdles title in 48.42 seconds and breaking a Nigerian national record that had stood since 1987. He went on to represent Nigeria at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, advancing to the semifinals.

Ezekiel continued his international progression, reaching the semifinals at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he also competed in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.

The 2025 season marked a major breakthrough. Ezekiel won the SEC Indoor 400 meters in an African indoor record of 44.74 seconds before successfully defending his Big 12 400-meter hurdles title. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, he captured the 400-meter hurdles title in 47.49 seconds and was named the 2025 NCAA Men’s Track Athlete of the Year.

He continued to excel on the international circuit, winning the 400-meter hurdles at Athletissima and placing third at the Diamond League Final. At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Ezekiel finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles while setting a new Nigerian national record of 47.11 seconds.

In 2026, Ezekiel continued competing among the world’s elite, winning the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix before capturing gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He also earned bronze as part of Nigeria’s mixed 4×400-meter relay team.

With a national record, NCAA championship, Commonwealth Games gold medal, Olympic experience, and proven versatility in both the flat 400 and 400-meter hurdles, Ezekiel continues to be a leading figure in Nigerian athletics.