Great Britain's rising sprint star Amy Hunt delivered a season‑best performance in the women's 200 metres at the final Diamond League meeting of the year, clinching the bronze medal in Brussels. 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 was not the only British athlete on the track that evening; fellow Briton Success Eduan completed the race in seventh place out of eight competitors, posting a time of 23.06 seconds. While Eduan’s performance was solid, it was Hunt’s dazzling run that captured the headlines. Earlier in the summer, Hunt became the face of the European Athletics Championships held in Birmingham, winning four gold medals and endearing herself to fans with her exuberant personality.
At just 24 years old, she dominated the sprint programme on home soil, taking individual titles in both the 100 m and 200 m events. In addition, she contributed to Great Britain’s success in the relay disciplines, securing gold medals in both the women’s 4 × 100 m and the mixed 4 × 100 m relays. Her quadruple‑gold haul turned her into a poster child for British athletics and sparked a wave of enthusiasm among supporters across the country.
The Brussels meeting also featured other notable British athletes. Matthew Hudson‑Smith, the European champion over 400 m, competed in his signature distance but finished fifth, missing out on a podium place. Meanwhile, Sweden’s pole‑vault world record holder Armand Duplantis was forced to withdraw from the Diamond League final due to a tightness in his back, a setback that came just a week before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Duplantis expressed his disappointment, stating, "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 showdown that will bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners, and other elite competitors. The event promises a staggering prize pool of $10 million (£7.87 million), with each individual champion slated to receive $150,000 (£110,865)—the largest single prize in the history of track and field. One of the marquee names absent from the Brussels sprint line‑up was Noah Lyles, the men's 100 m Olympic champion from Paris 2024.
Lyles announced that he would sit out the remainder of the season due to a lingering injury, but he confirmed his intention to travel to Budapest for the Ultimate Championships. "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 said.
"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." Hunt’s performance in Brussels not only underscored her status as a top‑tier sprinter but also hinted at her potential role at the upcoming Ultimate Championships. A 22.16‑second 200 m is a competitive mark on the world stage, and if she can translate that speed into the high‑stakes environment of Budapest, she could be a serious contender for the $150,000 prize.
Moreover, her experience in relay events could prove valuable should the Championships feature mixed‑team formats, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. Beyond the immediate results, Hunt’s season‑best run reflects a broader trend in British sprinting, where a new generation of athletes is emerging to challenge the traditional powerhouses of the United States and the Caribbean.
Coaches and analysts have noted that the combination of technical refinement, strength training, and mental preparation is paying dividends for athletes like Hunt, who now possess the confidence to compete with the very best. Looking ahead, the athletics community will be watching closely as the Ultimate Championships approach. With a $10 million purse, unprecedented media coverage, and a format that pits champions against each other in head‑to‑head match‑ups, the event promises to be a watershed moment for the sport.
For athletes such as Amy Hunt, Julien Alfred, Kayla White, and many others, it offers a chance not only to win substantial financial rewards but also to cement their legacies on a global stage. In summary, Amy Hunt’s bronze‑medal finish and season‑best time in Brussels serve as a testament to her growing prowess in the sprint arena. Her achievements this season, highlighted by a spectacular performance at the European Championships and now a strong showing in the Diamond League final, position her as one of the athletes to watch at the forthcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championships. The race in Brussels may have ended, but the excitement for what lies ahead in Budapest is only just beginning.