World champion names Nigerian Samuel Ogazi as biggest threat to historic 400m world record

Rising Nigerian sprint sensation Samuel Ogazi has gained global recognition after Botswana’s world champion Collen Kebinatshipi identified the 20-year-old as one of the biggest threats to Wayde van Niekerk’s former 400m world record.

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During the press conference prior to the Monaco Diamond League match, Kebinatshipi highlighted the Nigerian star as one of the athletes capable of rewriting history, following Ogazi’s sensational performances this season.

The Nigerian quarter-miler has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2026, clocking a national record of 43.38 seconds to become one of the fastest men in the world this year and cement his status as one of athletics’ brightest young talents.

“Samuel Ogazi is one of the athletes capable of challenging the world record. The quality of the field is improving and I think something special could happen,” said Kebinatshipi.

The Botswana star, who recently won the Paris Diamond League in 43.54 seconds, believes the current generation of 400m runners are pushing each other to unprecedented levels.

He also just broke another record in the Monaco Diamond League with 43.44 seconds in the men’s 400 meters to break a national record and become no. 6 on the all-time list.

He also revealed that he remains in regular contact with South African legend Wayde van Niekerk, whose world record of 43.03 seconds, set at the 2016 Rio Olympics, remains unbroken for almost a decade.

“When you have athletes running these types of times consistently, the world record naturally becomes part of the conversation,” he added.

NCAA champion Ogazi has quickly become one of the biggest prospects in Nigerian athletics, and his remarkable improvement has attracted the attention of athletes and coaches around the world.

The Nigerian is expected to continue his preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, where he will be among the country’s biggest medal contenders following his outstanding performances on the international circuit.