Olympics: Ogazi, 18, advances to 400m men’s finals, breaks 36-year record

18 year old Samuel Ogazi has written his name in the sands of time for his country as he is set to participate in the men’s 400 metres final at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The teenager ran his personal best 44.41 seconds to qualify for the event.

Since the Seoul Olympics in 1988, when Innocent Egbunike competed, Nigeria has not advanced to the final of this event. Egbunike finished fifth in the finale with 44.72 seconds.

Ogazi who ran from lane 5 in heat 3 of the event at the Stade de France finished third to qualify and push into contention for a medal.

Pushing forward after about 100m, he moved from the base of the group to fifth by the final bend at about 300m, from where he held his ground to finish third.

It was a close finish for Ogazi, who was the field’s youngest, and he qualified by the skin of his teeth as the second of the next two fastest qualifiers.

It was after the top two in each of the three semi-final races had qualified for the final slated for Wednesday evening.

Ogazi, who has a world ranking of 23 and is ranked above two other finalists, will run from lane 3.

In 2023, the teenager rose to prominence as a sprinting sensation after an impressive performance at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League, winning the men’s 400m in 45.91 seconds.

Earlier in March, Ogazi set the Nigerian under-18 record for the 400 meters with a time of 45.35 seconds.