Britain’s rising sprint star Amy Hunt delivered a standout performance at the season‑closing Diamond League meet in Brussels, clocking a personal season’s best of 22.16 seconds in the women’s 200‑metre race and earning a podium finish in third place. Her effort placed her behind the race winner, Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia, who also happens to be the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 metres and posted a winning time of 21.79 seconds, and the United States’ Kayla White, who finished second with a time of 22.00 seconds. Hunt’s achievement was a highlight for the British contingent, which also featured fellow countryman Success Eduan, who finished seventh out of eight competitors, recording a time of 23.06 seconds. While Eduan’s result was modest, Hunt’s performance underscored her growing reputation on the international stage.
The 24‑year‑old had already become a fan favourite earlier in the year when she dominated the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. There, she captured four gold medals and charmed audiences with her exuberant personality. Hunt won the individual 100‑metre and 200‑metre titles, and she also contributed to Britain’s victories in both the women’s 4×100‑metre relay and the mixed 4×100‑metre relay, showcasing her versatility and speed across multiple sprint events.
Beyond the 200‑metre final, the Brussels meet featured other notable performances. Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson‑Smith, the reigning European champion over 400 metres, competed in the men’s 400‑metre race but finished in fifth place, missing out on a medal despite a solid effort.
In a surprising turn of events, 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. His absence was felt keenly, as he was slated to compete just a week before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
Duplantis expressed his disappointment in a candid statement: "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 World Athletics Ultimate Championships, a brand‑new biennial event, promises to bring together the sport’s biggest names – world champions, Olympic champions, Diamond League winners and other elite athletes – to compete for a staggering $10 million (£7.87 million) prize pool. Each individual champion will walk away with $150,000 (£110,865), the largest winner’s cheque ever awarded in track and field.
One of the marquee athletes expected to headline the competition, men’s 100‑metre Olympic champion Noah Lyles, announced that he would sit out the remainder of the 2024 season due to injury. Despite his early season exit, Lyles confirmed his intention to travel to Hungary for the Ultimate Championships, saying, "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." Hunt’s performance in Brussels not only highlighted her personal progress but also reinforced Britain’s depth in sprinting talent. Her season‑best time of 22.16 seconds places her among the world’s elite 200‑metre runners and suggests she will be a strong contender for future global championships, including the upcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championships where the prize money and prestige will be unprecedented. Looking ahead, Hunt will likely aim to build on her Brussels success by fine‑tuning her race strategy, strengthening her start and maintaining top‑end speed through the curve and straight. Coaches and analysts will be watching her closely, noting that her ability to deliver under pressure – as demonstrated both in Birmingham and now in Brussels – bodes well for her prospects at the next major championships.
In summary, Amy Hunt’s season‑best run and third‑place finish at the Diamond League final not only added a medal to her growing collection but also signalled her readiness to compete with the very best in the world. As the athletics calendar moves toward the historic World Athletics Ultimate Championships, Hunt, along with other top sprinters like Julien Alfred, Kayla White, and the returning Noah Lyles, will be key figures to watch as the sport enters an exciting new era of competition and prize money.