By Dorcas Francis Koji
Commonwealth Games champion Samuel Ogazi has brought his remarkable 2026 season to an end, ruling himself out of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships scheduled for September.
The Nigerian 400m star announced his decision on Sunday, closing the chapter on a campaign in which he broke the national record, won both the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles and claimed his first international gold medal for Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Reflecting on the season, Ogazi described it as one he would never forget, revealing that he initially had doubts about competing indoors before gaining confidence as the campaign progressed.
“Indoors was the beginning of something special,” Ogazi said, recalling how he progressed from 44.8 seconds to 44.5 seconds at the NCAA Nationals.
His indoor campaign culminated in March when he won the men’s 400m title at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 44.57 seconds. The performance placed him third on the NCAA all-time list and fourth on the world indoor all-time list.
Ogazi then successfully defended his NCAA outdoor 400m title in May, continuing a season of rapid improvement.
“Then came outdoors, and somehow, the journey became even more special. I opened the season with a 44.0. Then came a 43.9 at SEC, a 43.8 at Regionals, and finally a 43.3 at Nationals,” he said.
The 20-year-old’s biggest breakthrough came on the international stage when he represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and won gold in the 400m, securing his first major international individual title.
Ogazi also recorded a world-leading 43.38 seconds at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, which stood as the fastest men’s 400m time globally at the time he announced the end of his season.
His decision means he will miss the maiden World Athletics Ultimate Championships, scheduled for September 11–13 in Budapest.
Despite ending his campaign early, Ogazi insists his decision is not a sign that he has reached his limit. Instead, he believes the experience gained this year will help him return stronger next season.
“I’m still figuring out how to run the 400m. I’m still learning my body, learning my race, learning how to put everything together, and learning just how far I can really go,” he said.
Ogazi said the season began with uncertainty but ended with renewed confidence in his ability.
“This season started with fear, but it ended with belief,” he added. “It started with me wondering what I could do, and ended with me realising that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
The Nigerian concluded by promising that his best is still ahead.
“This is only the beginning. I have no limits.”
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