Nigeria’s newest observe and subject star, Nathaniel Ezekiel is cherishing his fourth place placement and has nothing towards officers of this yr’s World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan, who initially upgraded him to the lads’s 400m hurdles’ bronze medal, however rapidly reverted it.
Sports247 studies that Ezekiel was on the centre of a night of heated confusion in Tokyo, as he was upgraded into third spot after USA’s Rai Benjamin was initially stripped of his gold medal for knocking over a hurdle earlier than crossing the end line in a time of 46.54secs.
Alison dos Santos of Brazil was second with 46.84s and Abderrahman Samba of Qatar positioned third at 47.06, whereas Ezekiel bought fourth spot on 47.11, simply forward of Norway’s world report holder, Karsten Warholm who fell brief in fifth.
The officers initially upgraded Ezekiel to 3rd spot after Benjamin’s infringement was considered an obstruction to different opponents however, even earlier than the winner’s punishment was overruled, the 21-year-old Nigerian overtly rejected the primary determination.
Ezekiel, who may have been the following Nigerian male observe quartermiler to get a World Athletics Championship medal after Francis Obikwelu’s silver at Seville 1999, identified, “(Benjamin) kicked the hurdle however I used to be not likely affected by it. I simply adjusted, tried to maintain going, and that actually didn’t have an effect on me.
“He was celebrating however was referred to as again, and I then got here as much as third. That made me really feel for him. It was an enormous win for him, and I don’t suppose it was correct for them to strip it from him.”
The vastly-improved athlete from Stanford College within the USA went on to take a look at his private efforts within the males’s 400mH last at Tokyo 2025 and, whereas admitting that he personally gave the race his greatest shot, he identified that Benjamin deserved the gold medal.
Ezekiel added, “Everybody got here out right here to place in numerous work, and that man deserves it. I’m additionally extraordinarily happy with myself for with the ability to make it to the world finals.
“I’m all the time assured however, on the identical time, I don’t underrate my fellow opponents, as a result of anybody may nearly run quick at any time.”
He concluded by acknowledging the presence of his heartthrob, who he cited as one of many largest elements motivating him to the excessive level his profession has amazingly taken this yr, however admitted he has to speak to his coach about including enhancements to his kind.
“I simply go in there, and I attempt to government what I’ve learnt. I used to be totally prepared for this race. I’m going to speak to my coach, and we’ll make the proper changes.
“I’m additionally pleased with the presence of my companion with me in Tokyo. She’s been supporting me all by way of the entire yr. She was on the NCAA with me and in Nigeria.
“It’s actually wonderful to have her round and, after my race, it’s good to see somebody I do know me and choosing my odds,” Ezekiel disclosed.
