Tobi Amusan qualifies for 2026 Diamond League Final as Nigeria’s sprint queen targets fourth trophy

Nigeria’s world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, , has secured her place in the 2026 Wanda Diamond League Final after another impressive season on the global athletics circuit.

Amusan earned qualification for the prestigious season-ending championshiTobi Amusanp after a consistent campaign that saw her accumulate 28 points from five Diamond League meetings, placing her second in the overall standings behind American hurdler Masai Russell, who leads with 32 points.

The 2026 Diamond League Final is scheduled for September 4 and 5 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, where the world’s best athletes will compete for the coveted Diamond trophies.

Amusan’s qualification was powered by a series of outstanding performances throughout the season, including three separate races where she clocked a season-best 12.28 seconds.

She opened her Diamond League campaign in Xiamen, China, on May 23, finishing second before producing a dominant victory in Rabat, Morocco, on May 31, where she broke the meeting record.

The Nigerian star continued her strong form in Paris on June 28, delivering another remarkable performance despite challenging weather conditions. Running in temperatures of about 32 degrees Celsius, Amusan surged strongly after the seventh hurdle to overtake her rivals and claim victory at the Stade Sébastien Charléty.

Beyond the Diamond League, Amusan has maintained her dominance on the continental stage, winning her third consecutive African Athletics Championships gold medal earlier this year in Accra, Ghana.

As the Diamond League season moves towards its climax, attention is expected to focus on the growing rivalry between Amusan and Russell.

Russell currently holds the fastest women’s 100m hurdles time of the year at 12.14 seconds, making her one of the biggest threats to Amusan’s ambition of reclaiming the Diamond League crown.

With upcoming Diamond League meetings in London, Lausanne, Silesia and Zurich, both athletes will have opportunities to sharpen their form before the final showdown in Brussels.

Athletics analysts believe the Brussels final could provide another memorable contest between two of the world’s leading hurdlers.

Amusan enters the final with a rich history in the competition. She won three consecutive Diamond League trophies from 2021 to 2023, establishing herself as one of the most dominant female hurdlers of her generation.

The Nigerian athlete also remains the women’s 100m hurdles world record holder after running 12.12 seconds at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

With a fourth Diamond Trophy within reach, Amusan is expected to approach the Brussels final with the determination to reaffirm her status among athletics’ elite.

Before turning her full attention to the Diamond League finale, the Ogun State-born athlete is set to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where she will aim to defend her 100m hurdles title.