AFRICAN WRAP: Top performers in the 2025 Diamond League

The 2025 Diamond League season showcased a spectacular array of African talent, with several athletes delivering standout performances and cementing their status on the global stage.

SuperSport.com looks at the best of Africa.

🌍 Top African performers at the 2025 Diamond League Final

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – men’s 200m

The reigning Olympic champion had an incredible season, remaining undefeated until the final.

In Zurich, he narrowly missed the Diamond Trophy, finishing second to Noah Lyles in a thrilling 200m final with a time of 19.76s, just 0.02s behind 1.

Akani Simbine (South Africa) – men’s 100m

Simbine led the Diamond League standings heading into Zurich and was a consistent sub-10 performer throughout the season.

He was joined in the final by fellow South Africans Shaun Maswanganyi and Bayanda Walaza, showcasing the depth of South African sprinting 2.

Beatrice Chebet (Kenya) – women’s 5 000m

Fresh off a double Olympic gold in Paris, Chebet dominated the Diamond League circuit and was a favourite in Zurich.

Her season included a commanding win in Xiamen and consistent top finishes 3.

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – women’s 1 000m

Already a legend with three Olympic titles and a 1 500m world record, Kipyegon aimed to break the 1 000m world record (2:28.98) in Zurich.

She entered the final in peak form, determined to add another milestone to her illustrious career.

Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia) – men’s 3 000m Steeplechase

At just 21, Firewu stunned the field by defeating Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali earlier in the season.

His win in Xiamen with a time of 8:05.61 marked him as the next big name in steeplechase.

WANYONYI IMPRESSES

Kenya’s Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi won a fight with Great Britain’s Max Burgin to secure his third successive Diamond League 800m crown.

Wanyonyi, who set a world lead of 1:41.44 in Monaco, led off the final bend but Burgin launched an attack. Wanyonyi had saved enough for a final surge, though, and he held off his rival – 1:42.37 to 1:42.42. Canada’s world champion Marco Arop was third in 1:42.57.

The Kenyan has been a consistent top-3 finisher.