As the track and field season is in high gear, some of the world's best athletes converge on Zurich for the 2025 Diamond League Final. After 14 qualifying meets across the globe, the top-ranked contenders in each discipline will be competing for substantial prize money and, of course, bragging rights. 

More than just another meet, the stakes couldn’t be bigger in this winner-takes-all format where each event champion will be crowned with the coveted Diamond Trophy, and an automatic wild card entry to the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. While some stars may be missing, the Diamond League final will feature reigning Olympic champions, world record holders, and budding rivalries all set to clash. This two-day event promises a thrilling conclusion to the season. To bring you up to speed, here are some competitors to keep an eye on. 

Noah Lyles

Whether you love him or hate him, Noah Lyles knows how to stay in the news. This year has been challenging for Lyles as he's had to deal with nagging injuries.  After receiving an international wild card to compete in the final, Lyles could become the first-ever male track athlete to win six Diamond League titles. To accomplish this feat, the Olympic 100m champion must defeat Letsile Tebogo,the 200m gold medallist in what has become one of the hottest rivalries in the sport. The battle between Lyles and Tebogo will be a can’t-miss event.

Julien Alfred 

Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred has been a dominant force in women’s 100m, winning the Monaco and Stockholm meets and setting a personal best in the 200m at the London meet. With world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and this year’s world leader Melissa Jefferson not competing  in Zurich, Alfred is seen as the favorite. To be Diamond League champion she will have to defeat Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Jamaica’s Tia Clayton who are both looking for an upset victory.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the Kenyan middle-distance running star, is one of the most exciting athletes to watch in the 800m. He’s not only the reigning Olympic champion, but comes into this match as a two-time Diamond League Final winner. Wanyonyi will be looking to reestablish his dominance over rivals like Marco Arop and Josh Hoey and claim his third Diamond League trophy.

Keni Harrison and Grace Stark

With Olympic champ Masai Russell out of the competition, the 110m hurdles are wide open. Her teammates, Keni Harrison and Grace Stark are more than capable to capture the championship.

A former world record holder in the 100m hurdles, Harrision won the 100m hurdles at the Atlanta City Games in May with a time of 12.30. She also ran a 12.48 at the Paris Diamond League. Stark has secured key victories and meet records in Shanghai (12.42) and Stockholm (12.33). At the Paris Diamond League, Stark set a new personal best of 12.21 seconds, placing her fifth on the all-time list.

Thea LaFond

Hailing from Dominica, Thea LaFond is a one-of-one in the women's triple jump. As the reigning Olympic champion and the 2024 World Indoor Champion, she has been a consistent presence at the top of the event. Throughout the 2025 Diamond League season, LaFond has performed well and earned enough points to qualify for the final. To capture the Diamond League trophy, she will face stiff competition from Leyanis Pérez Hernández of Cuba, the current world indoor champion, and Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts, the Olympic silver medalist.