British sprinter 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 metres and earning a podium finish in third place. Hunt’s time, while impressive, was bested by two formidable competitors: Julien Alfred of St Lucia, the reigning Olympic champion over 100 metres, who captured the gold with a swift 21.79 seconds, and American sprinter Kayla White, who took silver in 22.00 seconds. Hunt’s compatriot, Success Eduan, also featured in the race, finishing seventh out of eight athletes with a time of 23.06 seconds, a respectable effort that underscored the depth of British sprinting talent present at the meet.
The Brussels performance came on the heels of an extraordinary summer for Hunt, during which she became a fan favourite at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. At that event, the 24‑year‑old captured four gold medals, showcasing both her speed and her charismatic personality. She dominated the individual sprints, winning the 100 m and 200 m titles, and also contributed to Great Britain’s success in the relay disciplines, securing gold in both the women’s 4 × 100 m relay and the mixed 4 × 100 m relay.
While Hunt was adding a new personal best to her résumé, other notable athletes were also making headlines in Brussels. Matthew Hudson‑Smith, the European champion over 400 m, represented Great Britain in the men’s 400 m final but finished in fifth place, missing out on a medal but still delivering a solid performance against a strong field.
Sweden’s pole‑vault prodigy Armand Duplantis, who holds the world record in his event, was forced to withdraw from the Diamond League finale due to a sudden onset of back tightness. His withdrawal was particularly disappointing because it came just a week before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, an event that promises to be a showcase of the sport’s biggest stars.
Duplantis expressed his frustration, 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 World Athletics Ultimate Championships represent a novel, biennial competition that pits Olympic and World champions, Diamond League victors, and other elite athletes against each other for a staggering $10 million (£7.87 million) prize pool. Each individual champion stands to win $150,000 (£110,865), which would become the largest single‑event payout in the history of track and field. One of the marquee names expected to appear at the Budapest event is Noah Lyles, the men’s 100 m Olympic champion from Paris 2024.
Although Lyles has prematurely ended his competitive season due to injury, he confirmed his intention to travel to Hungary and take part in the Ultimate Championships in a supporting capacity. “I am still going to be at the 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 achievement in Brussels not only adds a new season’s best to her personal record but also signals her readiness to compete at the highest levels as the sport moves toward the new Ultimate Championships format. Her ability to deliver under pressure, as demonstrated by her multiple gold medals in Birmingham, suggests that she could be a strong contender for future titles, whether in individual sprints or as a key member of relay squads. The Diamond League final in Brussels served as a fitting curtain‑call for the 2024 season, offering a blend of triumphs, setbacks, and anticipation for what lies ahead.
Athletes like Hunt, Alfred, White, Hudson‑Smith, and Duplantis each contributed to a narrative of resilience and ambition, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in athletics as the sport prepares for the inaugural Ultimate Championships, a competition that promises to elevate the profile of track and field and reward its top performers like never before.