Brussels Diamond League: Olympic Stars and Record Chasers Ready for Memorial Van Damme
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The Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels (Friday, August 22) will gather an extraordinary field of Olympic and world champions for the final Wanda Diamond League meeting before the Zurich finale. With precious qualification points, wild card entries for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and meeting records at stake, the Belgian capital promises a thrilling night of athletics.
Women’s 100m – Jefferson Wooden vs Richardson and Fraser-Pryce
The women’s 100 metres is set to headline the evening. Olympic bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson Wooden takes on reigning world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Jefferson Wooden has been the revelation of 2025, topping the world lists in both the 100m (10.65) and 200m (21.84). She became the first athlete since 2003 to win both sprints at the US Championships and has remained unbeaten in the 100m since the Olympic final.
Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, returns for her fifth Brussels appearance. She set the meeting record of 10.72 in 2013 and last competed here in 2022, finishing second to Shericka Jackson by 0.01. While her season has been quieter, the Jamaican great remains a major threat.
Richardson, double world gold medallist in Budapest 2023, seeks redemption after finishing ninth in Eugene earlier this summer. Britain’s Daryll Neita, Olympic 200m finalist, also lines up alongside rising stars Maia McCoy, Patrizia Van de Weken, Rani Rosius, and Favour Ofili.
Men’s Discus – Alekna Faces Olympic Champion Stona
The men’s discus features a historic showdown between the biggest names in the sport: world record-holder Mykolas Alekna, Olympic champion Roje Stona, world champion Daniel Ståhl, and European champion Kristjan Čeh.
Alekna raised his world record to 75.56m earlier this year and has won Diamond League titles in Eugene and London. Yet in Paris, Stona stunned the Lithuanian by winning Olympic gold with 70.00m, breaking the Games record just minutes after Alekna had broken it himself.
Ståhl and Čeh, both consistently over 72m this season, are already qualified for Zurich, while Matthew Denny (74.78m Oceania record) and Stona still chase crucial points. Britain’s Lawrence Okoye and Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings add further depth.
Women’s Pole Vault – Moon, Morris, Caudery Headline Stacked Field
Olympic champion Katie Moon, world indoor champion Molly Caudery, and two-time world indoor champion Sandi Morris headline the women’s pole vault.
Morris has fond memories of Brussels, where she cleared 5.00m in 2016 to set the still-standing meeting record. She’s in top form again after wins in Rome (4.80m) and Stockholm (4.82m).
Moon, Olympic champion in Tokyo and co-world champion in Budapest 2023, has already won in Rabat and Paris this season. Caudery, meanwhile, has cleared 4.85m twice in 2025 and is chasing her first Diamond League victory.
The line-up also includes Amanda Moll (4.91m indoors this year), Slovenia’s Tina Šutej, Italy’s Roberta Bruni, and Belgian record-holder Ellen Vekemans (4.73m).
Women’s Shot Put – Jackson, Mitton, Schilder in Pre-Final Clash
The world’s top three converge in Brussels: two-time world champion Chase Jackson, Olympic medallist Sarah Mitton, and Dutch star Jessica Schilder.
Jackson leads the Diamond League standings after wins in Keqiao (20.54m) and Eugene (20.94m) and set a new US record of 20.95m last month. Mitton, the reigning Brussels champion, is chasing her first DL win of 2025, while Schilder is fresh from her breakthrough Monaco victory (20.39m).
Women’s Triple Jump – Lafond vs Ricketts vs Perez Hernández
Olympic champion Thea Lafond of Dominica faces Cuba’s Perez Hernández and Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts in a world-class triple jump.
Perez Hernández owns the world lead (14.92m) and the indoor world title. Ricketts, the Paris Olympic silver medallist, has already won in Doha and Rome this year. Lafond, history-maker for Dominica, comes to Brussels as Olympic and world indoor champion after jumps beyond 15 metres.
US jumper Jasmine Moore, fresh from a long jump win in Chorzow, adds intrigue.
Men’s Javelin – Weber Seeks Consistency
European champion Julian Weber is the man to beat after throwing a PB of 91.06m in Doha earlier this year. He faces reigning Diamond League champion Anderson Peters, Kenya’s Julius Yego, and Trinidad’s Keshorn Walcott.
Men’s 400m – Dobson, Patterson, and Samukonga Clash
Britain’s Charlie Dobson, last year’s Brussels champion, faces US star Jacory Patterson (43.98 PB in Miami) and Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga.
Belgian fans will roar for Alexander Doom, the new European champion (44.15 NR) and world indoor gold medallist. Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori, with Diamond League wins already this year, strengthens the field.
Men’s 1500m – Nuguse, Laros, and Rising Stars
Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse headlines the men’s 1500m. The American, North American record-holder in the mile, is targeting valuable points after failing to qualify for Tokyo Worlds.
He faces world U20 record-holder Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech (3:27.72), Dutch prodigy Niels Laros, Kenya’s Abel Kipsang and Reynold Cheruiyot, and Britain’s 2022 world champion Jake Wightman.
Women’s 5000m – Ngetich Chases World Record
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich will attempt to break the world record in Brussels. She clocked 14:01.29 in Eugene – the third-fastest time ever – and has been in blistering road form, running 29:37 for 10km earlier this year.
Her rivals include Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo, Hirut Meshesha, and Likina Amebaw, plus American Josette Andrews.
Women’s 1500m – Chepchirchir in Red-Hot Form
Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir seeks her fifth Diamond League win of the year after victories in Doha, Rabat, Paris, and Monaco. She faces Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji (3:51.44 PB), US champion Nikki Hiltz, and Italy’s Marta Zenoni.
Women’s Mile Steeplechase – Yavi Eyes World Record
Olympic champion Winfred Yavi will attempt the rarely-run mile steeplechase world record. The Bahraini came within 0.07 of the 3000m steeplechase world record in Rome last year and clocked 8:49.59 in Heusden this summer.
Men’s 200m – Charamba vs Ogando vs Coleman
Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba, Dominican record-holder Alexander Ogando, and former 100m world champion Christian Coleman headline the men’s 200m. Coleman, though better known for the 100m, remains a dangerous contender. Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh and US sprinters Robert Gregory and Kyree King bolster the field.
Men’s High Jump – Kerr Targets Another Win
Olympic champion Hamish Kerr (2.36m in Paris) is the favourite after Diamond League wins in Rabat and Chorzow. He faces Olympic silver medallist Shelby McEwen, Ukraine’s Oleg Doroshchuk, and NCAA champion Romaine Beckford.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Defending Diamond League champion Simon Koech takes on Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot and Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale.
Women’s 400m Hurdles – Cockrell Leads the Pack
Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell is favourite after her 51.87 PB in Paris. Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight, Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso, and Panama’s Gianna Woodruff will push her hard.
Women’s Long Jump – Thiam Stars at Home
Belgium’s sporting icon Nafissatou Thiam, three-time Olympic heptathlon champion, competes in the long jump in front of her home fans. She will be joined by compatriot Noor Vidts, Olympic bronze medallist in the heptathlon.
Men’s 800m (invitational)
Belgium’s Elliot Crestan, bronze medallist at the 2024 World Indoors, headlines an invitational 800m race. The national record-holder (1:42.43) will be roared on by a partisan home crowd.
