Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel underlined his growing status on the world stage with a trailblazing performance at the 2025 Diamond League Final in Zurich, becoming the first Nigerian to finish in the top three of the men’s 400m hurdles.
The 22-year-old clocked 47.56s on Thursday night at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium, racing behind 2020 Olympic champion Karsten Warholm of Norway (46.70) and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.02).
Ezekiel’s third-place finish in Zurich capped a sensational season for the Nigerian hurdler. The Baylor University athlete broke his own Nigerian national record earlier this year in Silesia with 47.31s – the fifth time in the year – and consistently posted world-class times, winning the NCAA title.
The performance marks Nigeria’s strongest showing yet in the men’s 400m hurdles at a Diamond League Final, a competition widely regarded as the most prestigious one-day athletics series in the world. With the World Athletics Championships on the horizon next month, Ezekiel’s breakthrough suggests that Nigeria finally has a genuine contender in one of track’s most demanding events.
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Nigeria also had a finalist in the men’s 200m, with Udodi Onwuzurike making his debut at the Diamond League Final. The 22-year-old lined up against a stacked field featuring Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, and Alexander Ogando.
The race lived up to the hype. Lyles edged Tebogo, crossing the line in 19.74s, two seconds ahead of the Olympic champion while Ogando placed third in 20.14s. Onwuzurike finished eighth in 20.54s, a learning experience but also a reminder of how far he has come in just a few years.
Nigeria’s third finalist, Tobi Amusan, had earlier withdrawn from the women’s 100m hurdles. The world record holder and three-time Diamond League champion had been chasing a record fourth trophy, but her absence opened the door for The Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton.
Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent went on to claim the title in Season-Best time of 12.30s ahead of Ditaji Kambundji in 12.40s which was a Swiss National Record. Grace Stark was third in 12.44s.
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