South African athletics will be strongly represented when the 2026 Wanda Diamond League Final takes centre stage at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels on Friday and Saturday, 4 and 5 September 2026.
Also see: Gayton McKenzie approves R3 million funding for SA Hockey teams following backlash
After a season-long campaign spanning four continents and 15 cities, the world’s best athletes will compete for 32 Diamond Trophies at the two-day finale.
For South African athletics fans, the Allianz Memorial van Damme will be a can’t-miss event.
An elite contingent of five homegrown stars has successfully navigated the gruelling global circuit to book their spots in the series finale. Armed with major national awards, personal bests, and fierce momentum, South Africa’s finest are hunting for the prestigious Diamond Trophy.
For Team South Africa, the spotlight will fall on Sinesipho Dambile, Akani Simbine, Gift Leotlela, Zakithi Nene and Prudence Sekgodiso.
View this post on Instagram
Sinesipho Dambile – men’s 200m
Few South Africans arrive in Brussels with more momentum than Sinesipho Dambile.
According to Athletics South Africa, the Commonwealth Games champion has enjoyed an exceptional Diamond League campaign, collecting five podium finishes before the final.
Most recently, he ran 19.82 seconds for silver in Zurich, finishing behind American Kenny Bednarek, who clocked 19.62 – the fastest time in the world this year.
Dambile’s consistency has also put him at the top of the Diamond League standings heading into the final, making him one of the leading contenders for the men’s 200m Diamond Trophy.
His challenge in Brussels will be formidable. Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and Bednarek are among the headline names in a race that promises to be one of the weekend’s sprint highlights.
View this post on Instagram
Akani Simbine – men’s 100m
Veteran sprinter Akani Simbine remains one of the biggest names in South African athletics and will once again carry the country’s hopes in the blue-riband 100m.
TimesLIVE reports that the 32-year-old owns the South African record of 9.82 seconds and has continued to operate at an elite level this year. His season’s best is 9.97, while he ran 9.96 in Silesia shortly before the final.
Simbine’s experience could prove particularly valuable in Brussels. The men’s 100m field includes world champion Oblique Seville, American stars Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell, and Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi.
The official Diamond League preview also lists Simbine’s compatriot Gift Leotlela among the competitors.
View this post on Instagram
Also see: SA’s Paralympic stars secure more medals than Olympic team in Paris
Gift Leotlela – men’s 100m
Simbine will not have to carry the South African sprint challenge alone.
Gift Leotlela has emerged as another serious contender in the 100m, producing a season’s best of 9.91 seconds and recording another sub-10 performance in Silesia. He finished fifth in the Silesia Diamond League final in 9.95 seconds.
Leotlela’s consistency has been particularly important during a season in which the men’s 100m has featured an exceptionally deep international field.
His presence alongside Simbine gives South Africa two opportunities to challenge the world’s leading sprinters.
View this post on Instagram
Zakithi Nene – men’s 400m
Zakithi Nene will make history of sorts when he finally gets the opportunity to compete in a Diamond League Final. Nene has previously qualified for the season-ending competition but has not competed. This time, after securing his place through a strong 2026 campaign, he is determined to make the most of the opportunity.
TimesLIVE adds that the 400m specialist has already claimed a Diamond League victory this season and produced a season’s best 43.89 seconds for second place in Paris. He subsequently added bronze in Silesia with 44.37 seconds.
A podium finish would cap a breakthrough campaign for Nene and further underline the depth of South African men’s sprinting.
View this post on Instagram
Prudence Sekgodiso – women’s 800m
The only South African woman in the five-athlete contingent, Prudence Sekgodiso, enters Brussels after a landmark season. Supersport reports that Sekgodiso, 24, smashed her personal best in Paris, running 1:56.83, and was subsequently recognised as Female Athlete of the Year at the SA Sport Awards.
Sekgodiso has experienced some less encouraging results late in the season, including eighth place in Lausanne in 1:59.58, but her earlier performances have established her as a genuine international-class 800m runner.
She will face a powerful field in Brussels, including Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who has run 1:53.70 this season. That makes Sekgodiso’s task difficult, but she will surely prevail.
View this post on Instagram
The five athletes arrive in Brussels at different stages of their careers, but they share one objective: finishing the Diamond League season on a high. With Diamond Trophies on the line, the question now is whether South Africa can turn a strong season into a spectacular finish.
Also see: Hugo Broos Says South Africa Must Bridge the Gap Between Youth and Senior Teams
Featured image: X/@Diamond_League
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!
