Samuel Ogazi reflects on breakthrough season and future ambitions after Commonwealth Games success

Ogazi described his two medals at the Commonwealth Games, a gold in the 400m flat and a bronze in the mixed relay, as the biggest moment of his life and his first global competition success. He noted that his 2023 and 2024 seasons were strong, attributing his recent success to taking recovery, hydration, and core training more seriously after a challenging 2025. Ogazi expressed his belief in his talent and hard work, stating that after running 44.8s in his season opener, breaking records became a matter of time.

He also shared his early dreams in Kaduna, where athletics was less recognized than football, and his desire to change mindsets about the sport. Ogazi highlighted how his background helped him adapt to the NCAA system in the USA, where he began weightlifting. He sees little difference in pressure between being a student-athlete and a professional, focusing on winning every race.

With a 3.8 GPA and a nomination for SEC Student-Athlete of the Year, he credits the American system for balancing academics and training. Ogazi aims to leave a legacy in Nigerian athletics with records that are difficult to break, similar to how he viewed past athletes, and hopes to continue raising the bar.