A strong contingent of South African athletes is ready to shine at the Zurich Diamond League Finals, with top talent vying for titles across a range of events. The prestigious two-day event, held at the Letzigrund stadium, will award the winners of five of the 32 Diamond disciplines on the first day, with the rest to be decided on Thursday, 28 August.
The men’s 100m final is a must-watch event for South African fans, featuring a formidable trio of sprinters: Akani Simbine, Bayanda Walaza, and Shaun Maswanganyi. They are up against a star-studded field that includes Christian Coleman, Ackeem Blake, and Trayvon Bromell. Their collective presence in the final underscores the impressive depth and strength of South African sprinting on the world stage right now.
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In the women’s 800m, Prudence Sekgodiso will take on an elite line-up including Tsige Duguma, Georgia Bell, and Halimah Nakaayi. Known for her tactical skill, Sekgodiso will need to be at her best to compete with these world-class runners for a place on the podium.
The women’s 400m hurdles will see Zenéy van der Walt competing against some of the discipline’s biggest names. The field is led by the dominant Femke Bol, alongside other formidable hurdlers like Emma Zapletalová and Andrenette Knight. Van der Walt will be looking to put together a strong performance to challenge for a top spot.
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In the javelin, Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane Du Plessis is set to face a challenging field of her own. With a season’s best of 62.77m and a personal best of 64.22m, she will be up against the likes of world-ranked number one Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan and Elina Tzengko of Greece. Du Plessis’s experience and proven ability to perform on the biggest stage make her a strong contender for a podium finish.
With prize money ranging between US$30,000 and US$50,000 for winners, in addition to wild card entries to the World Championships, there is plenty on the line. For these South African stars, their performances at the Diamond League finals will be a crucial final test and a perfect opportunity to fine-tune their form just weeks before the World Championships begin on September 13, 2025.
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