# Chidi Okezie

Chidi Anthony Okezie (born 8 August 1993) is a sprinter. Born in the United States, he competes internationally for Nigeria. He is a two-time African Championships bronze medallist in the 400 metres.

## Personal

His father, Moses Okezie is Nigerian and his mother Carol Morris is Jamaican. He has nine siblings. He graduated from Hampton University in 2015 and has a Master's in Sports Administration.

## Career

Okezie was part of the American 4 × 400 m relay team that won a gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Barcelona.
He represented Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and reached the semifinals of the 400 m. He also ran the anchor leg for the country in the 4 x 400 metres relay heats. The team finished second but were eventually disqualified for a lane infringement.
The 2018 African Championships were a success for Okezie. He won an individual bronze medal in the 400 metres behind Baboloki Thebe and Thapelo Phora. This made him a two-time African Championships bronze medallist as he had won a bronze medal at the 2016 Championships in Durban. He later anchored the Nigerian 4 x 400 m relay team to a bronze medal behind Kenya and South Africa. Okezie was also a member of the African quartet that placed second in the mixed 4 x 400 m relay at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup.
In 2019, he won the bronze medal in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2019 African Games held in Rabat, Morocco. He also won the bronze medal in the men's 400 metres.
His personal best in the 400 metres is 45.24 s which he set at the 2018 Culturama Games in Nevis.

## Competition record

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing the United States ||||||
| 2012 | World Junior Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.99 |
| Representing Nigeria ||||||
| 2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland, United States | 15th (h) | 400 m | 47.05 |
| 2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland, United States | 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:08.55 |
| 2016 | African Championships | Durban, South Africa | 3rd | 400 m | 45.76 |
| 2018 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 17th (sf) | 400 m | 48.53 |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 21st (sf) | 400 m | 47.33 |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | – | 4 × 400 m relay | DQ |
| 2018 | African Championships | Asaba, Nigeria | 3rd | 400 m | 45.65 |
| 2018 | African Championships | Asaba, Nigeria | 3rd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.88 |
| 2019 | African Games | Rabat, Morocco | 3rd | 400 m | 45.61 |
| 2019 | African Games | Rabat, Morocco | 3rd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.42 |
| 2022 | African Championships | Port Louis, Mauritius | 4th | 200 m | 21.02 |
| 2022 | African Championships | Port Louis, Mauritius | 3rd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:07.05 |
| 2024 | African Games | Accra, Ghana | 1st | 400 m | 45.06 |
| 2024 | African Games | Accra, Ghana | 3rd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.84 |
| 2024 | African Championships | Douala, Cameroon | 9th (sf) | 400 m | 45.96 |
| 2024 | African Championships | Douala, Cameroon | 4th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.93 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 16th (rep) | 400 m | 45.92 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | – | 4 × 400 m relay | DQ |

## National Titles

* 400 metres: 2015

## Personal bests

Outdoor
* 400 metres – 45.24 (Nevis, 2018)
Indoor
* 200 metres – 21.02 (Boston 2016)
* 400 metres – 46.48 (Boston 2016)