Great Britain's rising sprint star Amy Hunt delivered a standout performance at the season‑closing Diamond League meet in Brussels, clocking a personal seasonal best of 22.16 seconds in the women's 200 metres and earning a well‑deserved third‑place finish. Her time, while impressive, was eclipsed by the race winner, Julien Alfred of St Lucia, who also happens to be the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 metres and posted a swift 21.79 seconds.
Close on Alfred's heels was America's Kayla White, who crossed the line in 22.00 seconds to claim second place. The British contingent also featured Success Eduan, who finished seventh out of eight competitors with a time of 23.06 seconds, adding depth to the UK's representation in the sprint events.
Hunt's achievement in Brussels is particularly notable given her meteoric rise earlier in the summer at the European Athletics Championships held in Birmingham. There, the 24‑year‑old captured four gold medals and quickly became a fan favourite thanks to her infectious enthusiasm and charismatic presence on the track.
During the Birmingham championships, Hunt dominated both the 100‑metre and 200‑metre individual sprints, standing atop the podium in each event. In addition to her solo triumphs, she contributed to Team Great Britain's success in the relay disciplines, securing gold medals in both the women's 4 × 100‑metre relay and the mixed 4 × 100‑metre relay.
Her versatility across individual and team events underscored her status as one of the most exciting young athletes on the European circuit. The Brussels meeting also highlighted other notable performances. Matthew Hudson‑Smith, the European champion in the men's 400 metres, represented Great Britain but was unable to replicate his championship form, finishing fifth in his race.
Meanwhile, Sweden's pole‑vault sensation Armand Duplantis, who holds the world record in his discipline, was forced to withdraw from the Diamond League final due to a tightening in his back. Duplantis' withdrawal came just a week before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, a new high‑profile competition that promises to bring together the sport's elite.
Speaking about his injury, Duplantis expressed disappointment at missing the Brussels event, noting that fans were eager for a spectacular performance. "The worst possible thing to do is having to pull out of a competition. The fans wanted to see a good show and I wish I could deliver that.
Unfortunately, I can't right now," he said. He added that the mental strain of injury is a common challenge for athletes: "My head is everywhere right now.
It's super difficult, but that's life, that's the life of an athlete. I try to stay calm and positive. We will see if I can make the Ultimate Championships. I don't have the answer right now." The upcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championships represent a groundbreaking format in track and field, offering a $10 million (£7.87 million) prize pool that will be divided among the world's top performers.
Each individual champion stands to earn $150,000 (£110,865), which would mark the largest single‑event payout in the sport's history. The competition is set to feature a mix of world champions, Olympic medalists, Diamond League victors, and other leading athletes, all vying for a share of the lucrative purse. One high‑profile name absent from the Ultimate Championships lineup is Noah Lyles, the men's 100‑metre champion from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lyles has elected to end his season early due to an injury, but he confirmed his intention to travel to Hungary to support the event in a non‑competitive capacity. "I am still going to be at Ultimate Championship. I still do have parties to throw and things to do behind the scenes to help support the athletes," Lyles explained.
He expressed optimism about the competition's potential, stating, "I still think that this is going to be an amazing competition, and I'm excited to watch that. And I'm even more excited to see what the future is going to bring." Amy Hunt's performance in Brussels not only adds another medal to her growing collection but also signals her readiness to compete at the highest levels as the athletics calendar moves toward the new Ultimate Championships format. Her seasonal best of 22.16 seconds places her among the world's elite sprinters and suggests she could be a strong contender for future titles, both individually and as part of relay squads. Looking ahead, British athletics fans will be eager to see how Hunt and her teammates adapt to the evolving landscape of international competition.
With the Ultimate Championships promising unprecedented financial incentives and a showcase of the sport's very best, athletes like Hunt, Alfred, White, and others will have the chance to cement their legacies on a global stage. The blend of seasoned champions and emerging talents creates a compelling narrative for the sport, one that promises excitement, drama, and perhaps new record‑breaking performances as the world watches. In summary, the Diamond League final in Brussels served as a fitting capstone to a busy summer for Amy Hunt, who turned in a season‑best effort to claim third place behind two world‑class rivals.
Her continued ascent, combined with the upcoming Ultimate Championships, sets the stage for an exhilarating period in track and field, where athletes will chase both glory and historic prize money in pursuit of greatness.