Samuel Ogazi declared his ambition to become the greatest athlete in history after clinching his maiden senior title with a commanding victory in the men’s 400m at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Saturday, The Punch reports.
The 20-year-old Nigerian star justified his billing as the world’s top-ranked 400m runner by crossing the finish line in 44.25 seconds at Scotstoun Stadium.
The triumph earned Nigeria its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in the men’s 400m, eclipsing the bronze medal won by Sunday Bada at the 1994 edition.
Ogazi finished comfortably ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s defending champion Jereem Richards, who settled for silver in 44.82 seconds, while South Africa’s Zakithi Nene claimed bronze with a time of 45.21 seconds.
Having reached the Olympic final as a teenager at Paris 2024 and established himself as the fourth-fastest man in history over the distance, Ogazi arrived in Glasgow carrying the expectations that come with being the favourite.
He, however, rose to the occasion to secure the first senior international gold medal of his career.
“I would not say I had extra pressure on me. It was just a bit of weight on my back to carry. I did not want to come out here and disappoint. I was confident, I came here prepared, I have trained for this and for conditions like this.
“The first 100 was a little sluggish, but I knew I had a lot inside me. I just stayed controlled, kept it easy and kept going,” Ogazi said.
The Nigerian sprinter also made it clear that his long-term goals extend far beyond his Commonwealth Games success.
“Maybe an Olympic gold, a world championship gold, become the greatest athlete ever. That is what I am working towards,” he said.
Ogazi’s former University of Alabama coach, Blaine Wiley, believes the youngster has the potential to achieve those lofty ambitions after witnessing his latest triumph.
“Samuel is a remarkable athlete. He made the Olympic final as an 18-year-old and has grown and matured every year from a boy into a man.
“There are a lot of great athletes out there, but I believe the sky is the limit for Samuel,” Wiley said.
