PREVIEW: Lyles v Thompson headlines Silesia Diamond League

The 2025 Silesia Diamond League, next Saturday at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Poland, is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling stops on the athletics calendar.

Follow all the action live on SuperSport on SS Action and Africa 1 from 4pm.

SuperSport.com look at the storylines and matchups to watch:

🔥 SPRINT SHOWDOWN: LYLES V THOMPSON

The men's 100m will feature a blockbuster rematch between Noah Lyles (USA) and Kishane Thompson (Jamaica), reprising their epic duel from the Paris 2024 Olympics where both clocked 9.79 seconds 1.

Thompson enters in top form, having run a world-leading 9.75 this season and won the Prefontaine Classic. Lyles, recovering from injury, is looking to climb the Diamond League standings and secure a spot in the Zurich Final.

🌍 WORLD RECORD HOLDERS RETURN

Two of the sport’s biggest stars, Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Mondo Duplantis, are returning to the scene of their 2024 world records 2. Ingebrigtsen shattered the 3000m record with a time of 7:17.55, while Duplantis cleared 6.26m in the pole vault. Both are defending their Diamond League titles and aiming for another historic performance in Silesia.

🏃‍♀️ WOMEN’S 400M CLASH

European champion Natalia Kaczmarek will race on home soil against Olympic gold medalist Marileidy Paulino and former world champion Salwa Eid Naser. With seven of the eight Olympic finalists in the field, this promises to be one of the most competitive races of the meet.

🥇 MIDDLE-DISTANCE FIREWORKS

The men’s 800m is another marquee event, featuring Olympic gold and silver medalists Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Marco Arop. With several athletes flirting with sub-1:42 times, this race could push the boundaries of the event’s historical limits.

AFRICAN ATHLETES TO WATCH

SOUTH AFRICA

Akani Simbine will race against the American trio of Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell and Noah Lyles in the 100m.

Marione Fourie will add to South Africa's presence in the 100m sprint hurdles.

NIGERIA

Tobi Amusan – The world record holder in the 100m hurdles is chasing her fourth Diamond Trophy. She’s currently second in the Diamond League standings and will face fierce competition from Masai Russell (USA), Ackera Nugent (JAM), and Danielle Williams (JAM) 1.

Favour Ofili – Competing in the 200m, Ofili is switching focus from the 100m and will face top contenders like Shericka Jackson (JAM) and Brittany Brown (USA) 1.

Ezekiel Nathaniel – A rising star in the 400m hurdles, Nathaniel will be up against Olympic champion Karsten Warholm (NOR) and Abderrahman Samba (QAT) 1.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi – In the men’s shot put, Enekwechi is aiming to secure a spot in the Diamond League Final after breaking the African record with a 22.10m throw in Oregon 1.

KENYA

Timothy Cheruiyot, Reynold Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, and Festus Lagat – All are entered in the men’s 1500m, a stacked field that includes Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) and Yared Nuguse (USA) 2.

Beatrice Chebet – Competing in the women’s 1500m, Chebet is part of a strong Kenyan and Ethiopian contingent 2.

ETHIOPIA

Gudaf Tsegay, Diribe Welteji, Freweyni Hailu, Birke Haylom, Worknesh Mesele, and Saron Berhe – All are featured in the women’s 1500m, making it one of the most competitive races of the meet 2.

IVORY COAST

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith – A sprint veteran, she’ll be competing in the women’s 100m, facing off against Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) and Aleia Hobbs (USA) 2.