Event By Event Preview: Brussels Diamond League Memorial Van Damme
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The 2024 Memorial Van Damme, a WANDA Diamond League final in Brussels, features 101 medals at the past Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, including 19 fresh Olympic champions. Eighty-two of the 101 medals were won at the Olympic Games (25 gold, 32 silver and 25 bronze).
For the first time in history, the Allianz Memorial Ivo Van Damme will be spread over 2 days covering all 32 disciplines. With already over 70.000 tickets sold over the two days, this year’s final in Brussels will break attendance records for the history of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme and the final of the Diamond League.
The Jesse Owens Rising Star Award will be inaugurated at the Wanda Diamond League Finals. This award aims to celebrate the young talent in athletics and honour the legacy of US legend Jesse Owens.
The queen of Belgian athletics Nafissatou Thiam will not compete, but she will be honoured by the King of Belgium Phillip.
Men’s pole vault:
Armand Mondo Duplantis is chasing his fourth consecutive Diamond Trophy following his triumphs in Zurich 2021 with 6.06m, in Zurich 2022 with 6.07m and in Eugene 2023 with 6.23m. He won in Brussels in 2020 with 6.00m, in 2021 with 6.05m and 2023 with 6.10m.
With a fourth consecutive win in Brussels this weekend Duplantis would make another step towards Renaud Lavillenie’s record of seven Diamond League titles.
Duplantis set three world records this season clearing 6.24m in Xiamen, 6.25m when he won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris and 6.26m at the Diamond League meeting in Chorzow. This year he also won in Suzhou, Stockolm and Paris with 6.00m and Lausanne with 6.15m.
The Swede became the second pole vaulter to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the pole vault following the double achieved by USA’s Bob Richards in Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956.
Duplantis will face his friend and rival Sam Kendricks, who won the Olympic silver medal in Paris with 5.95m. The US pole vaulter finished second to Duplantis in Lausanne with 5.92m, in Chorzow with 6.00m and Zurich with 5.82m in rainy weather conditions.
Emmanouil “Manolo” Karalis won the world indoor bronze medal in Glasgow with 5.85m, the European silver medal in Rome with 5.87m and the Olympic bronze medal in Paris with 5.90m. The Greek pole vaulter cleared 6.00 metres for the first time in his career in Chorzow and won in Zagreb with 5.88m beating Kendricks.
The entry list features Christopher Nilsen, Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo 2021, KC Lightfoot, US outdoor record holder with 6.07m, Thibaut Collet, who finished fifth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 5.90m and cleared 5.95m this year, and Ben Broeders from Belgium, seventh at the World Championships in Budapest 2023.
Women’s pole vault:
Nina Kennedy won the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 completing her collection of major titles one year after sharing the world gold medal with Katie Moon in Budapest. Kennedy is chasing her second Diamond Trophy two years after winning in Zurich with 4.81m.
Kennedy claimed four Diamond League competitions this year in Monaco with 4.88m, London with 4.85m, in Rome with 4.83m and in Zurich with 4.87m.
Angelica Moser won the European gold medal in Rome setting her national record with 4.78m. The Swiss pole vaulter improved her Swiss record twice to 4.83m and 4.88m to finish second to Kennedy in Monaco. She finished fourth at the Olympic Games with 4.80m in Paris. In the post-olympic meetings Moser finished fourth in Zurich with 4.77m and won the City Event of the Galà dei Castelli in Locarno with 4.64m.
Alysha Newman won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris with 4.85m in the same city where she won her first Diamond League meeting with 4.82m in 2019. Newman placed third in Rome with 4.73m and Zurich with 4.82m.
Three-time world medallist Sandi Morris finished fourth at the US Trials and did not take part in the Olympic Games, but she bounced back at the Golden Gala in Rome, where she finished second to Kennedy on countback with a seasonal best of 4.83m. Morris returns to Brussels where she won the Diamond League final in 2016 improving her PB to 5.00m.
Molly Caudery from Great Britain won the world indoor gold medal with 4.80m and the European bronze medal in Rome with 4.73m but she failed three attempts at her opening height in the Olympic qualifying round in Paris.
Italian record holder Roberta Bruni placed seventh at the European Championships and set her seasonal best of 4.66m in the Monaco Diamond League meeting. She placed in the Diamond League final in Zurich with 4.61m.
The line-up also features Eliza McCartney from New Zealand, Olympic silver medallist in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and silver medallist at the World Indoor Championships, Amalie Svabikova from Czech Republic, bronze medallist at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul 2023, Italian record holder Roberta Bruni, seventh at the European Championships in Rome 2024 and fifth at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco with 4.66m this year.
Men’s 1500 metres:
Jakob Ingebrigtsen leads the Diamond League standings with 38 points. Ingebrigtsen is seeking to defend his Diamond League title in the 1500 metres. One year ago Ingebrigtsen won two Diamond Trophies in the mile and in the 3000 metres in Eugene. The Norwegian set the mile European record and the third fastest time in history in the mile with 3:43.73. In the 3000m he beat Yomif Kejelcha by one hundredth of a second with a European record of 7:23.09.
This year Ingebrigtsen won the Olympic gold medal in the 5000 metres in Paris. He improved the 1500m European record with 3:26.73 at the Herculis meeting in Monaco and Daniel Komen’s world record in the 3000 metres clocking 7:17.55 at the Memorial Kamila Skolimowska in Chorzow.
Cole Hocker finished second in Lausanne in 3:29.85 and 3:30.46 in Zurich in his post Olympic races. Hocker won the US Trials in Eugene in a PB of 3:30.59 beating Nuguse in a final sprint. The 2024 world indoor silver medallist improved his PB by three seconds to win the Olympic gold medal in Paris in 3:27.65, setting the Olympic and continental record.
Nuguse won the 1500m at the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich for the second consecutive edition in 3:29.21 beating Ingebrigtsen. The US athlete of African origin claimed the Olympic bronze medal in a lifetime best of 3:27.80 and finished fifth in Budapest in 3:30.25.
Timothy Cheruiyot, world champion in Doha 2019 and Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo 2021 returned to his best form when he finished second to Ingebrigtsen in Monaco in 3:28.71 last july. Cheruyiot won five Diamond Trophies in the 1500m. Last Sunday he stepped down in distance to win the 800 metres in 1:45.47 at the Brescia Grand Prix. The other Kenyan athletes in the field are Reynold Cheruiyot, world under 20 champion in Cali 2022 and Brian Komen, who improved his PB to 3:28.80 in Monaco.
Elliot Giles showed his recent good form last weekend when he broke Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s world road mile record clocking 3:51.3 in Dusseldorf. Giles set the British indoor record in the 800 metres with 1:43.63 in Torun in 2021.
Azzedine Habz is ranked third in the Diamond League. The Frenchman won the first Diamond League race of his career in Marrakesh in 3.32.86 and finished third in 3:30.80 in Oslo.
The other athletes to watch are Narve Gilje Nordas, world bronze medallist in Budapest 2023, and Jochem Vermeulen from Belgium, who set the national record with 3:31.74 in Lausanne.
Women’s 1500 metres:
Faith Kipyegon is the greatest 1500m middle distance runner in history. Kipyegon won three Olympic gold medals in the 1500 metres in Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, the silver medal in the 5000 metres in Paris and won four world titles (three in the 1500 metres in London 2017, Eugene 2022 and the double in the 1500m and in the 5000m in Budapest). The Kenyan star is aiming to claim the fifth Diamond League Trophy of her career. She holds world records in the 1500m with 3:49.04 (Paris 2024) and in the mile with 4:07.64 (Monaco 2023). After her Olympic title in Paris she won the 1500m at the Golden Gala in Rome in 3.52.89.
Last year Kipyegon won the 1500m Diamond League title in Eugene 2023 in the 1500m in 3:50.72. She won three times in Brussels in the mile with 4:16.71 in 2015, in the 1500m with 3:57.04 in 2017 and in the 1000m in 2:29.92 in 2020.
Jessica Hull from Australia leads the Diamond League with 34 points ahead of Freweyni Hailu. Hailu set the Oceanian record with 3.50.83 in the Paris Diamond League meeting and the world all-time list in the 2000 metres with 5:19.70 in Monaco. The Australian athlete won the Olympic silver medal in the 1500 metres in 3:52.56. In her most recent race Hull placed fourth in 3:54.98 in Rome.
Hailu is fourth in the Diamond League with 26 points. The Ethiopian athlete won the 1500m in 4:00.42 and finished second in Chorzow in 3:57.88 and in Rome in 3:54.16.
The other athletes in the line-up are Diribe Welteji, winner in two Diamond League meetings in Eugene in 3:53.75 and Chorzow in 3:57.08, Birke Haylom, second in Xiamen in 3:53.22 and third in Rome in 3:54.79, and Georgia Bell from Great Britain, Olympic bronze medallist in the 1500 metres in Paris in a national record of 3:52.61 and second in two 800 metres races in Lausanne in 1:58.53 and Zurich in 1:57.94.
Women’s 100 metres:
Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred will clash against world champion Sha’Carri Richardson in re-match of the Olympic Games in Paris and the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich.
Alfred won the gold medal in the 100 metres in Paris in a national record of 10.72 becoming the first athlete from Santa Lucia to win the Olympic gold medal and the silver medal in the 200 metres. Alfred also performed very well in the Diamond League winning in the 100m in Monaco in 10.85 into a headwind of -1.0 m/s and finished second in the Diamond League meeting in London in a national record of 21.86 in the 200 metres.
Richardson won the Olympic silver medal in 10.87 but she avenged her defeat by beating Alfred by 0.04 in Zurich last week in 10.84. The US sprinter won the Olympic 4x100 relay gold medal in 41.78 and two world gold medals in the 100 metres in a lifetime best of 10.65 and in the 4x100 relay and the world bronze medal in the 200 metres in a PB of 21.92. This year she won the US Trials final in Eugene.
Marie Josée Ta Lou and Tamari Davis lead the Diamond League standings with 31 points. Ta Lou finished second twice in Stockolm with 11.16 and in Chorzow in a wind-assisted 10.83 and fourth in Lausanne in 11.07 and Zurich in 10.93. She won in Brescia in 11.28 in rainy conditions.
Davis placed second three times in Doha and Monaco with the same time of 10.99 and Lausanne with 10.97.
Dina Asher Smith is third in the standings with 26 points. The British sprinter won in Lausanne in 10.88 and finished third three times in Eugene in 10.98, Monaco in 10.99 and Zurich in 10.89. She won her second European 100 metres in Rome in 10.99 and the Olympic silver medal in the 4x100 relay in Paris. She won the Diamond League final in the 100 metres in 10.89 in Brussels in 2019.
Daryll Neita from Great Britain won the 100 metres in the Diamond League in Doha in 10.98 and finished fourth in the Olympic final in Paris in 10.96.
The entry list also features Patrizia Van der Weken from Luxembourg, winner in the Diamond League meeting in Paris in 11.06 and fourth at the European Championships in Rome in 11.04, Gina Bass Bittaye, first in the 100 metres at the Diamond League in Stockolm in 11.15 and second in Paris in 11.07.
Men’s 100 metres:
Chrsitan Coleman won last year’s Diamond League Final in Eugene improving his PB to 9.83. The US sprinter will hope to bounce back from his fourth place at the US Trials which ruled him out of the individual race at the Olympic Games in Paris. He leads the Diamond League standings with 30 points thanks to two wins in Xiamen (10.13) and Eugene (9.95) and two second spots in Suzhou (10.04) and Rome (9.92).
Fred Kerley won the Olympic bronze medal in the 100 metres in 9.81 three years after finishing second in Tokyo 2021. Kerley is currently fifth in the Diamond League standings finishing second in 10.17 in Xiamen and third in Suzhou in 10.11 and Rome in 9.95. He also performed well in the 200 metres finishing third in Lausanne in 19.86 and fourth in Zurich in 19.81.
Akani Simbine from South Africa reached his third Olympic final finishing fourth in Paris in 9.82. Simbine won two races in Suzhou in 10.01 and Oslo in 9.94 and second in London in 9.88.
Ackeem Blake from Jamaica finished third at the Diamond League meeting in Chorzow equalling his PB with 9.89 and fifth in London in 9.97. Last Monday he won at the Galà dei Castelli in Bellinzona in 9.96 beating Simbine.
The line-up features Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon, who won the first Diamond League race of his career in Marrakesh in 10.11 and clocked 9.98 in the heats of the Olympic Games in Paris, Rohan Watson, Jamaican champion in 2023 in 9.91, Abdul Hackim Sani Brown from Japan, two-time World Championships finalist in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023, and Brandon Hicklin, who finished third at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 10.08 and improved his PB to 9.94 in Baton Rouge.
Men’s 200 metres:
Letsile Tebogo won the Olympic final in the 200 metres in Paris improving his own African title to 19.46. Tebogo has won four Diamond League since then in in the 200m in Lausanne in 19.64, in Chorzow in 19.83 and in Zurich in 19.55 and in the 100m in Rome in 9.87 missing his PB by just one hundredth of a second. Tebogo will compete in the 100 metres on Friday and in the 200 metres on Saturday.
Kenny Bednarek is aiming to win his second Diamond League title following his win in the 2021 Final in Zurich in 19.70. In this year’s edition Bednarek finished second in the Olympic final in Paris 2024 in 19.62 and won two Diamond League races in Doha in 19.67, Eugene (19.89) and finished third in Chorzow (20.00) and second in Zurich in his 19.57, just two hundredths behind Tebogo.
Alexander Ogando performed well this year in the Diamond League breaking the 20 seconds barrier three times with 19.94 in Lausanne, 19.86 in Chorzow and 19.87 in Zurich and leads the Diamond League standings with 36 points ahead of Tebogo (32 points). Ogando finished fifth at the World Championships in 19.93 and at the Olympic Games in Paris in 20.02. He won the 200m in Bellinzona in a meeting record of 20.19.
Erryion Knighton had a solid post-Olympic season finishing second in Lausanne in 19.79, third in Zurich in 19.78 and fourth in Chorzow with 20.07. Knighton won two world medals (bronze in Eugene 2022 and silver in Budapest 2023) and finished fourth in two Olympic finals in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024.
The line-up also features Courtney Lindsey, who won two Continental Tour races in the 100 metres in Berlin in 9.99 and Zagreb in 9.97, Joseph Fahnbulleh from Liberia, seventh in the Olympic final in Paris and second in Zagreb in 20.07, and Kyree King, fifth in the US Olympic Trials final in 19.90 and winner with the 4x100 at the World Relays in Nassau in 37.47.
Men’s shot put:
Ryan Crouser is chasing the second win of his career at the Diamond League Finals three years after his victory in Zurich with 22.67m. The US shot putter won his third Olympic gold medal in a row with 22.90m becoming the first shot putter in history to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals. In his three Diamond League competitions Crouser won in Rome with 22.49m and finished second in London with 22.37m and Chorzow with 22.12m.
Two-time world champion Joe Kovacs won two consecutive Diamond League titles in Zurich 2022 with 23.23m and Eugene 2023 with 22.93m beating Crouser both times. Kovacs leads the Diamond League standings with 31 points ahead of Crouser (30 points). Kovacs won his third consecutive Olympic bronze medal with 22.15m in Paris.
Leonardo Fabbri is fourth in the standings with 28 points after a win in London with 22.52m, two runner-up spots in Rome with 21.70m and Zurich (21.86m) and a third place in Chorzow with 22.03m. Fabbri won the European gold medal in Rome with 22.45m and finished fifth in the Olympic final in Paris with 21.70m.
Rajindra Campbell became the first Jamaican shot putter to win an Olympic medal by finishing third with 22.15m in Paris.
Payton Otterdahl finished second at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with 22.26m, third at the London Diamond League meeting with 22.13m before placing fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 22.03m. After the Olympic Games he took a fourth place in Chorzow with 21.63m.
Cornell Enekwechi from Nigeria finished third at the Diamond League in Eugene with a seasonal best of 21.91m and sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 21.42m.
Men’s 800 metres:
Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the gold medal in a lifetime best of 1:41.19 in the Olympic final in Paris becoming the youngest champion in the history of this event. The 20-year-old Kenyan athlete went on to win in Lausanne in a new PB of 1:41.11 missing David Rudisha’s world record by just 0.20. With this performance he equalled the second fastest time in history held by Wilson Kipketer. He also dipped under the 1:42 barrier in the Paris Diamond League meeting with 1:41.58 and at the Kenyan Trials in Nairobi with 1:41.70.
Wanyonyi will renew his rivalry against Canada’s Marco Arop, who won the Olympic silver medal in 1:41.20. The North American athlete of Sudanese origin finished second in Lausanne in 1:41.72 and won in Chorzow in 1:41.86 beating Wanyonyi. Arop also won at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen in 1:43.81 and set the North American record of 2:13.13 in the 1000m in Zabreb.
Djamel Sedjati won three Diamond League races in Stockolm in 1:43.23, in 1:41.56 in Paris and 1:41.46 in Monaco before finishing third in the Olympic final in Paris in 1:41.50.
Women’s 800 metres:
World outdoor champion Mary Moraa from Kenya will chase her second Diamond League title two years after winning in Zurich in 2022. Moraa won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris 2024 and the world title in Budapest 2023 in a PB of 1:56.03. The Kenyan 23-year-old athlete won two 800 metres races in Lausanne in 1:57.91 and Zurich in 1:57.08 and set the world all-time best in the 600 metres at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin with 1:21.63. Her cousin Sarah Moraa won the world under 20 title in Lima this year.
Georgia Bell from Great Britain won bronze in the 1500 metres in a national record of 3:52.61 and finished second in the 800m in Lausanne in 1:58.53 and in Zurich in 1:57.94.
The other British athlete in the field is Jemma Reekie, who won the world indoor silver medal in front of her home fans in Glasgow. Reekie finished second at the London Diamond League setting a lifetime best of 1:55.61 and third in Lausanne in 1:58.73 second in the 1000 metres in Chorzow in 2:32.56.
Jamaica’s Natoya Goule Toppin returns to Brussels where she won in 1:58.09. Goule Toppin improved her PP to 1:55.96 in the Diamond League final in Eugene.
Prudence Sekgodiso from South Africa is chasing her third win in the Diamond League after her victories in Marrakesh in 1:57.26 and in Oslo in 1:58.66. She also finished second in Hengelo in 1:58.75.
The other top names are Halimah Nakaayi from Uganda, world champion in Doha 2019, Renelle Lamote from France, three-time European silver medallist and fifth in the Olympic final in Paris and Noelle Yarigo from Benin, world
indoor bronze medallist in Glasgow 2024.
Men’s discus throw:
Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna leads the Diamond League standings with 30 points. The son of discus throw legend won three consecutive Diamond League competitions in Marrakesh with 70.70m, Oslo with 70.91m and Stockolm with 68.64m. The Lithuanian athlete set the world record of 74.35m in Ramona last April, improving Jurgen Schult’s previous mark of 74.08m. This record had stood since 1986, making it the longest-standing world record in men’s athletics. Last August Alekna won the Olympic silver medal with 69.97m.
Kristjan Ceh won the European gold medal in Rome last June with 68.08m and returned to the Italian capital to take the win at the Rome Golden Gala with 68.61m. The 2022 world champion won the Diamond League final in Zurich 2022.
Matthew Denny will defend his title one year after winning the Diamond League final in Eugene with 68.43m in 2023. Denny is second in the Diamond League standings with 26 points after finishing second in three consecutive meetings in Marrakesh (67.74m), Oslo (67.61m) and Stockolm (66.75m). The Australian thrower claimed the Olympic bronze medal in Paris with 69.31m and finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 68.24m.
Daniel Stahl won gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest with 71.46m beating Ceh and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. The Swede placed third in Marrakesh (67.49m), Oslo (66.80m) and Stockolm (66.10m).
The other athletes to watch are Lukas Weissheidinger from Austria, European silver medallist in Rome 2024 with 67.70m and bronze medallist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and at the World Championships in Doha 2019, Fedrick Dacres from Jamaica, world silver medallist in Doha 2019 and winner at the Diamond League Final in Brussels 2018 with 68.87m, and Phillip Milanov from Bulgaria, world silver medallist in Beijing 2015.
Women’s discus throw:
Valarie Allman is aiming to win her fourth consecutive Diamond League title after her wins in Zurich in 2021 (69.20m) and 2022 (67.77m) and Eugene in 2023 (68.66). During the 2024 season Allman won her second Olympic gold medal in Paris with 69.50m, three Diamond League competitions in Xiamen (69.80m), Suzhou (69.86m) and Paris (68.07m) and the US Trials Finals in Eugene with 70.73m.
Allman will resume her rivalry against two-time Olympic and world champion Sandra Elkasevic, who won her seventh European gold medal in Rome with 67.07. The Croatian thrower has been one of the most successful athlete in Diamond League history with seven Diamond Trophies. Allman beat Elkasevic with 67.83m at the Memorial Boris Hanzekovic in Zagreb last Sunday.
Bin Feng from China, world champion in Eugene 2022, won the Olympic silver medal with 67.51m and the second Diamond League competition of her career with 67.89m in Xiamen.
Yaimé Perez from Cuba set the world seasonal best of 73.09m in Ramona last April. Perez won the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2021 and two Diamond finals in 2018 and 2019.
Jorinde Van Klinken from the Netherlands won two European silver medals in the shot put and discus throw in Rome last June. The Dutch thrower finished fourth at the most recent two editions of the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023 and seventh at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Kristin Pudenz won two silver medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and at the European Championships in Munich 2022. Pudenz won at the Istaf meeting with 64.14m on 1 September.
Women’s 200 metres:
Anavia Battle leads with 23 points ahead of Daryll Neita (25 points). Battle finished second in two Diamond League races in Suzhou in 22.99 and Rome (22.27).
Neita won the European silver medal in Rome in 22.50. in the Diamond League the British sprinter won the 200 metres in Suzhou in 22.62 and finished third in Oslo in 22.50 and Rome in 22.46 and fourth in a seasonal best of 22.20 in London.
Britany Brown won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris and two Diamond League races in Oslo in 22.32 and Rome in 22.00.
Sha’Carri Richardson won the world bronze medal in 21.92. Richardson finished fourth in the US Olympic Trials in 22.16, second in Xiamen in 22.99 and Suzhou in 23.11.
Marie Josée Ta Lou, world silver medallist in the 200 metres in London 2017, finished second in Oslo in 22.36. Ivory Coast will be also represented by Mabondou Koné, who placed second in Marrakesh.
The line-up will feature Amy Hunt from Great Britain, European champion in Rome and Olympic silver medallist in the 4x100 relay, and Tamara Clark, world champion in the 4x100 relay in Budapest 2023.
Women’s 400 metres hurdles:
World and European champion Femke Bol will make her return to competitions after pulling out of Zurich due to illness. The Dutch star needed to give her body some time to recover. Bol will aim to win her fourth consecutive Diamond League title.
She has won 24 individual 400m hurdles races in the Diamond League circuit over the past four years, including three competitions in 2024 in Stockolm (53.07), London (51.30 Diamond League record), Lausanne (52.25 meeting record) and Chorzow (52.13). This year she became the second woman in history to break the 51 seconds barrier with a European record of 50.95 in La Chaux de Fonds and won the world indoor title in the 400m in a world record of 49.17, three Olympic medals (gold in the mixed 4x400 relay, silver in the women’s 4x400 relay and bronze in the 400 metres hurdles). She won at last year’s edition of the Memorial Van Damme in 52.11.
Bol will face Anna Cockrell, who won her first Diamond League race in Rome in 52.59 and finished second in Chorzow in 52.88 and in Zurich in 53.17. Cockrell finished second at the US Olympic Trials in 52.64 and won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris behind Sydney McLaughlin in 51.87 becoming the fourth woman in history to break the 52 seconds.
Shiann Salmon won the first Diamond League competition of her career in Zurich in 52.97 and finished second in Rome in 53.20 and fourth in Chorzow in 53.15.
Rushell Clayton from Jamaica won the National Trials in Kingston in 52.51 and finished fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris in 52.68. In the Diamond League she claimed two races in Marrakesh in 53.98 and Oslo in 54.02 and finished second in Lausanne in 53.32 and Chorzow in 53.11.
Shamier Little, world silver medal in Budapest 2023, finished third in the 400m hurdles in Rome in 54.15 and Zurich in 54.07 and on the 400m in Zagreb in 50.58. Little placed fourth at the US Olympic Trials in 52.98 but she bounced back by winning two Olympic gold medals in the women’s 4x400 relay and in the mixed 4x400 relay. Little set a seasonal best of 52.78 at the London Diamond League meeting.
The other top names are Janieve Russell, gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022 and fourth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, Andrenette Knight, fourth at the Diamond League meeting in London in 53.69, Paullen Coucuyt from Belgium, Ewropean under 23 champion in 2019.
Women’s 100 metres hurdles:
Jasmine Camacho Quinn leads the Diamond League standings with 32 points. The Puerto Rican hurdler has remained unbeaten in the past month winning her four post-olympic races in Lausanne in 12.35, Zurich in 12.36, Brescia in 12.89 with a strong headwind and Bellinzona in 12.52.
Camacho Quinn won two Olympic medals, finishing first in Tokyo 2021 in 12.37 and third in Paris in 12.36.
Camacho Quinn will face her training partner Samba Mayela who placed second in Zurich in 12.40. The French hurdler claimed the world indoor silver medal in Glasgow in the 60 metres hurdles in 7.74, the European gold medal in Rome with 12.31.
Ackera Nugent reached the best form of her career after the Olympic Games winning two consecutive Diamond League races in Chorzow in 12.29 and Rome in her PB of 12.24 moving to fourth in the world all-time list. Nugent won the Jamaican Trials in Kingston with her PB of 12.28.
Nadine Visser, two-time European indoor champion in 2019 and 2021, improved her PB to 12.36 in La Chaux de Fonds last July and finished fifth in the Olympic final in 12.43. The Dutch hurdler finished third in Rome in 12.52 and fifth in Zurich in 12.54.
Pia Skryszowska from Poland won the world indoor bronze medal in Glasgow in the 60 metres hurdles in 7.79, the European bronze medal in Rome 2024 in 12.42 and improved her PB to 12.37 in La Chaux de Fonds.
Grace Stark, NCAA champion in Eugene and fifth in the Olympic final in Paris in 12.43, finished third in Lausanne in 12.38, second in Chorzow in 12.37, fourth in Zurich in 12.49 and second in Bellinzona in 12.54.
110 metres hurdles:
Sasha Zhoya from France won two Diamond League races this year in Paris in 13.15 and Rome in 13.18, and finished second in Zurich behind Grant Holloway in 13.10. Last Tuesday the Frenchman beat Holloway at the Galà dei Castelli in Bellinzona in 13.22.
Holloway will not compete in the Brussels Diamond League because he was not able to reach an agreement with meeting organizers.
Daniel Roberts won two consecutive Diamond League races in Xiamen and Suzhou. Roberts finished third at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene with 12.96 and won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris in 13.09. Roberts finished second in his most recent race in Zagreb in 13.18.
Freddie Crittenden finished fourth at the World Championships in Budapest in 13.16 and second at the US Trials in 12.93.
Lorenzo Simonelli won the European gold medal in Rome improving his Italian record to 13.05 and finished second to Holloway in 13.08 at the Monaco Diamond League last July. He returned to winning ways last week by taking victory at the Brescia Grand Prix ahead of Cordell Tinch in 13.39 in rainy weather conditions.
Cordell Tinch set the fourth fastest time in the world this year with 13.03 at the US Trials in Eugene, but he did not qualify for the Olympic Games after finishing fourth at the US Trials. Tinch broke the 13 seconds barrier for the first time in his career with 12.96 last year.
The other athletes to watch are Japan’s Shunsuke Izumyia, fifth at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 and third at the Paris Diamond League meeting in 13.16, Eric Edwards, second at the 2022 NCAA Championships, and Michael Obasuyi from Belgium, national record holder with 13.20 and sixth in the European Championships final in Rome.
Women’s 400 metres:
Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino from Dominican Republic will be seeking her third consecutive Diamond Trophy following her wins in Zurich in 2022 in 48.99 and in Eugene 2023 in 49.58.
Paulino won the Olympic gold medal in Paris in 48.17 improving Marie José Pérec’s Olympic record. She has claimed four Diamond League races this season in Xiamen (50.08), Suzhou (50.89), Oslo (49.30) and Paris Charlety (49.20).
Adeleke won the gold medal in the 4x400 mixed relay, two silver medals in the 400 metres in Rome in 49.07 and in the women’s 4x400 relay. The Irish athlete finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris in 49.28.
Another European medallist in the field is Lieke Klaver from the Netherlands, who finished third in 50.08 at the European Championships in Rome and first in the 4x400 relay. Klaver won the gold medal with the 4x400 mixed relay and the silver medal with the women’s 4x400 relay. The Dutch athlete improved her PB to 49.58 at the Diamond League meeting in London last July and clocked 50.00 in Chorzow.
Selwa Naser from Barhein won the world title in 48.14 in Doha 2019 and the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024 in 48.53. Naser finished second in Chorzow in 49.23.
Alexis Holmes finished sixth in her PB of 49.77 and won the gold medal in the 4x400 relay at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The line-up also features Sada Williams from Barbados, two-time world bronze medallist in Eugene 2022 in 49.75 and in Budapest 2023 in 49.60 and seventh in the Olympic final in Paris 2024 in 49.83, Lynna Irby Jackson, Olympic champion in the 4x400 relay in Tokyo 2021, and Amandine Brossier from France, fifth in the 4x400 relay at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
Men’s 400 metres:
Muzala Samukonga from Zambia won the Olympic silver medal in Paris in a national record of 43.74 after clocking 43.81 in the semifinal. Samukonga continued his impressive season with a second place in Lausanne with 44.06 and a win in Rome in 43.99.
Kirani James from Grenada won four Diamond League titles in 2011, 2015, 2022 and 2023. The three-time Olympic and world medallist finished fifth in the Olympic final in Paris in 43.87. In the Diamond League he placed fifth in London in 44.38 and second behind Samukonga in Rome in 44.30.
Vernon Norwood leads the Diamond League standings with 32 points. He finished second in Monaco in 44.34 and in London in 44.10 before winning the Olympic gold medal in the 4x400 relay with 2:54.43.
Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
Alison Dos Santos is chasing his second Diamond Trophy two years after his win in Zurich in 46.98 in 2022.
Dos Santos won the world gold medal in Eugene 2022 in a South American record of 46.29. Dos Santos won five Diamond League races in Doha in 46.86,in Oslo in 46.63, in Stockolm in 47.01, in Paris in 47.78 and in London in 47.18. He did not finish his race in Zurich but he finished second in Bellinzona in 48.78.
Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke won his first Diamond League race in Zurich in 47.49 and finished second in London in 47.63. The Jamaican hurdler broke the world under 20 record with 47.34 in the semifinal of the World Championships in Budapest 2023 before finishing fourth in the final in 48.07.
Two-time Olympic finalist Abderrahman Samba finished sixth in 47.98 in the Olympic Final in Paris, third in Chorzow in 47.58 and second in Zurich in 47.58.
Rasmus Magi reached his third Olympic final in Paris and broke the 48 seconds barrier clocking 47.95 in Paris and 47.97 in Chorzow. He won in Brescia in 48.61 in rainy conditions.
The line-up also features James Malik King, winner at the Jamaican Trials in 47.42, CJ Allen, second in the Diamond League meeting London in 47.81, Wilfried Happio from France, European silver medallist in Munich 2022 and fourth at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Gerald Drummond from Costarica, winner at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 48.56.
Women’s high jump:
Olympic, world and European champion Yaroslava Mahuchik won two Diamond League Finals in Zurich 2022 and in Eugene 2023 with the same height of 2.03m. The Ukrainian jumper is chasing her fourth win at the Allians Memorial Ivo Van Damme after her previous victories in 2021 with 2.02m, in 2022 with 2.05m and in 2023 with 2.00m.
Mahuchik broke Stefka Kostadinova’s world record after 37 years by clearing 2.10m at the Diamond League meeting at the Charlety one month before winning her first Olympic gold medal at the Stade de France in Paris with 2.00m on countback over Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers. After the Olympic Games the Ukrainian star won in Lausanne with 1.99m and Zurich with 1.96m on a rainy evening.
Olyslagers claimed the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow 2024 beating Mahuchik and her second consecutive Olympic silver medal in Paris. Mahuchik beat Olyslagers with 2.03m on countback at last year’s edition of the Diamond League Final in Eugene.
Men’s high jump:
Gianmarco Tamberi is chasing his third Diamond League Trophy after his wins in two consecutive editions in Zurich in 2021 and 2022. Tamberi started the 2024 season on a high note when he won his third European gold medal on home soil with a world seasonal lead of 2.37m.
Tamberi made history when he shared the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo with his friend Mutaz Barshim at 2.37m. Kidney problems ruined his preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris, where he finished 11th with 2.22m, but he bounced back with three wins at the Chorzow Diamond League meeting with 2.31m, Rovereto with 2.29m and Bellinzona with 2.27m and finished third in Rome with 2.27m. The 2021 Olympic champion returns to Brussels where he finished second with 2.31m in the Diamond League final in 2018.
Tamberi will clash against USA’s Shelby McEwen, Olympic silver medallist with 2.36m and second at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024, South Korea’s Songhyeok Woo, world indoor champion in Belgrade 2022 with 2.34m and Diamond League winner in Eugene with 2.33m, Oleh Doroshchuk from the Ukraine, European bronze medallist in Rome with 2.29m and sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 2.31m, Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford, tenth in the Olympic final in Paris and second at the Chorzow Diamond League meeting with 2.29m and Thomas Carmoy from Belgium, European indoor bronze medallist in Torun 2021.
Men’s long jump:
Miltiadis Tentoglou leads the Diamond League standings with 22 points after winning in Lausanne with 8.06m and finishing second in Zurich with 8.06m and Doha with 8.36m. The Greek athlete won his third consecutive European title in Rome improving his PB to 8.65m and his second Olympic gold medal in Paris with 8.48m. He is aiming to win his second Diamond Trophy two years after winning in Zurich in 2022 with 8.48m.
Wayne Pinnock won the first Diamond League competition of his career in Zurich with 8.16m and finished second in Lausanne with 8.01m. Pinnock finished second at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 8.50m and won the Olympic silver medal in Paris with 8.36m.
The other Jamaican athletes in the field are Tajay Gayle, who won the world gold medal in Doha 2019 with 8.69m and finished third at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 8.27m, and Carey McLeod, who placed fourth at the World Championships in Budapest.
Furlani is sixth in the overall standing with 11 points and secured his qualifying spot with fifth place in Zurich with 7.91m. The Italian jumper won the silver medals at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow with 8.22m. The 19-year-old Italian athlete started his season with a world under 20 record of 8.36m in Savona. He won the silver medal at the European Championships in Rome improving his world under 20 record by 2 cm to 8.38m and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris with 8.34m.
Ehammer is second in the overall standings with 18 points and is aiming to win his second consecutive Diamond Trophy after claiming the win in lKeast year’s final in Eugene with 8.16m. Ehammer won the European bronze medal in the long jump in Rome with 8.31m after setting a seasonal best of 8.43m in the qualifying round and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 8.20m.
Women’s long jump:
European outdoor silver medallist Larissa Iapichino returns to competitions after taking some time off, as she felt a period of down following her fourth place at the Olympic Games in Paris. The daughter of Fiona May and Gianni Iapichino won four Diamond League competitions in her career in Florence, Stockolm and Monaco in 2023 and Paris in 2024. The Italian athlete won the European silver medal with 6.94m setting the second best performance in her career and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Iapichino will take on Jasmine Moore, Olympic bronze medallist in the long jump with 6.96m, Quanesha Burks, fourth at both the World Championships in Eugene and at the US Olympic Trials in the same venue this year, Monae Nichols, sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 6.67m, Marthe Koala from Burkina Faso, seventh at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 and winner at the Diamond League meeting in Suzhou with 6.68m, and Milica Gardasevic from Serbia, European under 20 champion in Grosseto 2017 and sixth at the World indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024.
Women’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Barhain’s Winfred Yavi will go head to head against Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and Kenya’s Faith Cherotich in a 3000m steeplechase race which reunites the entire podium of the Olympic final in Paris.
Yavi won the Olympic gold medal setting the Olympic record with 8:52.76. In her first Diamond League race she set the second fastest time in history clocking 8:44.39 at the Golden Gala in Rome. She also won another Diamond League race in Paris in 9:03.68.
Yavi is aiming to defend the Diamond League title she won last year in Eugene in 8:50.66 a few weeks after her world gold medal in Budapest.
Chemutai won the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2021 and finished second in Paris 2024 in a national record of 8:53.34. Chemutai won the first Diamond League race of her career in Eugene in 8:55.09 and finished second to Yavi in Rome in a national record of 8:48.03.
The entire Olympic podium is completed by Kenyan 20-year-old Faith Cherotich, who won the bronze medal in Paris in 8:55.15 one year after finishing third at the World Championships in Budapest. Cherotich finished third in Rome.
The other athletes to watch are two-time European champion Gesa Felicitas Krause from Germany, Lea Meyer, European silver medallist in Munich 2022, Marwa Bouzayani from Tunisia, fifth at the Golden Gala in Rome in a national record of 9:04.73, Lomi Muleta from Ethiopia, eighth at the Olympic Games in 9:06.07, Valerie Constien, winner at the US Trials in Eugene in 9:03.22 and Gabrielle Jennings (9:07.70).
Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco is chasing the second Diamond League title of his career two years after winning in Zurich in 2022. Ele Bakkali won two Diamond League races this year in Marrakesh in 8:09.40 and Chorzow in 8:04.29.
The Moroccan athlete won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase in 8:06.05 in Paris becoming the second man to successfully defend the 3000m steeplechase title after Finland’s Volmari Iso Hollo , who last achieved this feat at the Olympic Games in Berlin 1936.
El Bakkali will face Samuel Firewu from Ethiopia and Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott from Kenya.
Firewu leads the Diamond League standings with 26 points. The young Ethiopian athlete won his first Diamond League race of the season in Doha in 8:07.25 and finished sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Kibiwot is third in the standings after finishing second in Doha in 8:07.38 and third in Paris in 8:06.70.
The line-up also features Mohamed Jhinaoui from Tunisia, fourth in the Olympic final in 8:07.73, Amos Serem, world under 20 champion in Nairobi 2021 and second in Paris Charlety in 8:02.70. and Getnet Wale from Ethiopia, fourth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and second in Marrakesh in 8:09.78 this year.
Men’s javelin throw:
Anderson Peters won the Olympic bronze medal with 88.54m in Paris following his world titles in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022. The Grenadan thrower won in Lausanne with his seasonal best of 90.61m surpassing the 90m mark for the first time in two years and completed the double on Swiss soil by winning in Zurich with 85.72m.
Neeraj Chopra won the first Diamond League title of his career in Zurich with 88.44m becoming the first Indian athlete from his country to win the Diamond Trophy. Chopra won gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with 87.58m and at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 88.17. This year the Indian javelin thrower won the Olympic silver medal with 89.45m and finished second in Lausanne with 89.49m.
Julian Weber won the European gold in Munich 2022 in front of his home fans and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and at the past two editions of the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. Weber improved his seasonal best to 88.64m at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin and finished second in Zurich with 85.33m.
The other athletes in the line-up are Artur Felfner from the Ukraine, world under 20 champion in Cali 2022, Andrian Mardare from Moldova, who finished seventh at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and the World Championships in Eugene 2022, Roderick Genki Dean from Japan, third in Zurich with a seasonal best of 83.19m.
Women’s javelin throw:
Haruka Kitaguchi returns to Brussels, where she won in last year’s edition of the Memorial Van Damme with 67.38m a few weeks before claiming the Diamond League title with with 63.78m. The Japanese thrower completed the Grand Slam of Major titles by winning gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest and the Olympic Games in Paris. She won two Diamond League competitions in Suzhou with 62.97m and Monaco with 65.21m.
Kitaguchi will renew her rivalry against Flor Ruiz Hurtado from Colombia, who won the world silver medal in Budapest with 65.47m and improved her national record to 66.70m this year.
Adriana Vilagos from Serbia won two European silver medals in Munich 2022 and Rome 2024 and set two national records with 65.60m in Chorzow and Zagreb with 65.64m.
The line-up will feature Mackenzie Little from Australia, world bronze medallist in Budapest 2023 and second in the Monaco Diamond League meeting with 64.74m, Victoria Hudson from Austria, European champion in Rome with 64.62m, and Maggie Malone Hudson from the USA, who holds a PB of 67.40m in 2021.
Men’s triple jump:
Fabrice Hugues Zango from Burkina Faso, gold medallist at the World Championships in Budapest with 17.64m and at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024 with 17.53m, is first in the Diamond League standings. He also collected two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and the World Championships in Doha 2019 and the silver medal at the World Championships in Eugene 2022. He finished fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 17.50m.
The line-up also features Lazaro Martinez from Cuba, world silver medallist in Budapest 2023 and world indoor champion in Belgrade 2021, Max Hess, European champion in Amsterdam 2016 and seventh at the Olympic Games in Paris with 17.38m, and Andrea Dallavalle from Italy, European silver medallist in Munich and fourth at the World Championships in Eugene 2022.
Women’s shot put:
Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye will take on Maddison Lee Wesche from New New Zealand, Song Jiayuan from China, two-time world outdoor champion Chase Ealey and world indoor champion Sarah Mitton from Canada.
Ogunleye won the world indoor silver medal with 20.19m and the Olympic title with 20.19m. The German shot putter finished second in Lausanne with 19.55m.
Lee Wesche won the Olympic silver medal with 19.65m.
Ealey won two world titles in a row in Eugene 2022 and Budapest but she did not get through the qualifying round at the Olympic Games. The US shot putter bounced back with a win in Lausanne with 20.64m.
Mitton won the world silver medal in Budapest 20.08m and the world indoor gold medal in Glasgow 2022. The Canadian shot putter finished 12th in the Olympic final in Paris but she bounced back with a second place in Lausanne 20.18m.
The line-up also features 2019 world silver medallist Danniel Thomas Dodd from Jamaica.
Men’s 5000 metres:
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi will face his compatriots Yomif Kejelcha, Hagos Gebrhiwet, Biniam Mehary, Talahun Haile Bekele, Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland, Nicholas Kipkorir, Jacob Krop and Ronald Kwemoi.
Aregawi won the Olympic silver medal in the 10000 metres in a lifetime best of 26:43.44 in Paris and finished fourth over the same distance at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. After the Olympic Games in Paris Aregawi improved the Ethiopian record to 7:21.28 in the 3000m in Chorzow and finished sixth in the 5000m in Rome in 12:54.12.
Kejelcha finished second in the 5000m in 12:38.95 at this year’s Bislett Games in Oslo and repeated the same placing in Rome in 12:51.28. He won the 10000m at the Ethiopian Trials in 26:31.01 and finished seventh in 26:44.02 at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Gebrhiwet won the 5000m in Oslo this year breaking Kenenisa Bekele’s Ethiopian record with 12:36.73 and won the Olympic bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and two world medals (silver in Moscow 2013 and bronze in Beijing 2015). After the Olympic Games he claimed his second Diamond League race of the season in Rome with 12:51.07.
Bekele won the 5000m at the Golden Gala in 2019 in 12:52.98 and set his PB of 12:42.70 in Monaco in 2023.
Lobalu won the gold medal in the 10000m and the bronze medal in the 5000m at the European Championships in Rome. He set the Swiss record in the 3000 metres clocking 7:27.68 at the London Diamond League. Lobalu ran 3:34.39 in the 1500m in Lausanne and 12:59.16 in Rome.
Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli and Jacop Krop finished first and second at the Rome Golden Gala clocking 12:46.33 and 12:46.79 respectively. Krop improved his PB to 12:45.71 at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels in 2022 and won the world silver medal in the 5000m in Eugene 2022. Kwemoi won the Olympic silver medal in the 5000m in Paris2024 and set a world under 20 record in the 1500m with 3:28.81.
Women’s triple jump:
Leyanis Perez Hernandez is aiming to win her fourth Diamond League competition this year after her victories in Eugene with 14.73m, in Stockolm with 14.67m and in Monaco with 14.96m. She also finished second in Chorzow with 14.49m. The Cuban triple jumper won the world bronze medal in Budapest with 14.95m and finished fifth with 14.62m at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Perez Hernandez will face Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, who won the sixth Diamond League competition of her career with 14.50m in Chrorzow. Ricketts set the second best performance of her career when she won in Brussels in 2023 with 15.01m. She won the Olympic silver medal in Paris with 14.87m and two world silver medals in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022. Ricketts improved her PB to 15.03m at the 2023 Diamond League in Eugene. She will face her compatriot Ackelia Smith, who won two NCAA titles in the long jump and in the triple jump in Eugene last June.
Moore won bronze medals in both the long jump (6.96m) and triple jump (14.67m) at the Olympic Games in Paris. Moore holds PBs of 15.12m in the triple jump and 7.03m in the long jump.
The line-up will also feature Daryia Derkach, who finished fourth in last year’s edition of the Diamond League Final in Eugene with her PB of 14.52m and eighth at the Olympic Games in Paris with her seasonal best of 14.35m.
200 and 400 metres extra races with Sydney McLaughlin Levrone
Double 400 metres hurdles Olympic champion Stdney McLaughlin Levrone will compete in the 400 metres on Friday 13 September and in the 200 metres on 14 September in two competitions that are non-Diamond League scoring events. The Memorial Van Damme will be her only European meeting after the Olympic Games in Paris. She won her second Olympic gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles setting the fourth world record of her career with 50.37 and the 4x400 relay gold medal with 3:15.27, the second fastest time in history.
McLaughlin Levrone set PBs of 48.74 at the 2023 US Championships in Eugene in the 400 metres and 22.07 in the 200 metres at the 2024 Los Angeles Grand Prix. She came close to her PB in the 400 metres by clocking 48.75 at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in New York last June.
