Great Britain's rising sprint star Amy Hunt delivered a personal season's best performance in the women's 200 metres at the season‑closing Diamond League meet in Brussels, clinching the bronze medal. Her time of 22.16 seconds placed her behind the event winner, Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, who also holds the Olympic title in the 100 metres and crossed the line in 21.79 seconds, and ahead of America's Kayla White, who finished in 22.00 seconds. Hunt's achievement was a highlight for the British contingent, although another compatriot, Success Eduan, finished seventh out of eight competitors, recording a time of 23.06 seconds.
Eduan's effort, while respectable, underscored the depth of talent present in the field. Earlier this summer, Hunt captured the public's imagination at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The 24‑year‑old became the face of the tournament, amassing four gold medals and endearing herself to fans with her exuberant personality. She dominated the sprint program by winning the individual 100‑metre and 200‑metre titles, and she also contributed to British victories in both the women's 4x100‑metre relay and the mixed 4x100‑metre relay.
Her collection of medals made her the most decorated athlete of the championships and cemented her status as a rising star on the international stage. The Brussels meeting also featured other notable British performances.
Matthew Hudson‑Smith, the European champion in the men’s 400 metres, competed on Friday night but was unable to replicate his continental success, finishing fifth in his race. Meanwhile, Sweden's pole‑vault world record holder Armand Duplantis was forced to withdraw from the Diamond League final due to a back injury. Duplantis, who was slated to showcase his record‑breaking abilities just a week before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, expressed disappointment at missing the event. He said, "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.
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, biennial competition that brings together Olympic champions, World champions, Diamond League winners, and other elite athletes. The event boasts a staggering $10 million (£7.87 million) prize pool, with each individual champion slated to receive $150,000 (£110,865) – the largest winner’s cheque ever awarded in track and field.
This financial incentive, combined with the prestige of competing against the sport’s very best, has generated considerable excitement among athletes and fans alike. One high‑profile absentee from the Ultimate Championships will be Noah Lyles, the men’s 100‑metre Olympic champion from Paris 2024. Lyles announced that he will miss the competition due to an injury that forced him to end his season prematurely. Despite his absence from the track, Lyles confirmed his intention to travel to Budapest to support the event in a different capacity.
He remarked, "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. 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." The Diamond League final in Brussels served as a crucial stepping stone for many athletes as they look ahead to the Ultimate Championships.
For Hunt, the season‑best 22.16 seconds not only secured a podium finish but also signaled her readiness to contend on the world stage in the months to come. Her performance demonstrated the depth of her sprinting repertoire, combining raw speed with technical precision, and suggested that she could be a serious medal contender in future global events. In addition to the headline performances, the meet featured a range of other notable moments. The men's sprints saw fierce competition, with several athletes posting sub‑20‑second times in the 200 metres.
The field events, despite Duplantis's withdrawal, still produced impressive marks, particularly in the long jump and discus, where emerging talents challenged established veterans. Overall, the Brussels Diamond League final highlighted the resilience and ambition of the sport’s elite. While injuries and withdrawals are an inevitable part of athletics, the athletes who took to the track displayed a commitment to excellence that bodes well for the upcoming Ultimate Championships. As the sport moves toward this new, high‑stakes format, fans can anticipate thrilling showdowns, record‑breaking performances, and the continued rise of athletes like Amy Hunt, who are poised to shape the future of sprinting on the world stage.