The 2026 Wanda Diamond League season is almost at its grand finale, with the world’s elite track and field athletes converging on Brussels for two days of high-stakes competition on September 4 and 5. Over the course of the season, athletes have battled across four continents and 15 cities, and now, 32 Diamond League champions are set to be crowned in Belgium.
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.
Here is exactly when you can catch our South African athletes in action this weekend, along with a look at the elite fields they will be facing.
Friday, 04 September 2026
Men’s 100m – 20:14 SA Time
South Africans in action: Akani Simbine and Gift Leotlela
South Africa will pose a dual threat in the marquee sprint event. Veteran speedster Akani Simbine arrives in Brussels riding high after being crowned the Sport Star of the Year at the SA Sport Awards. He will be joined by compatriot Gift Leotlela, with both men bringing sharp form into the final following strong sub-10-second runs at the Silesia meeting in Poland and a blistering 9.97s season’s best for Simbine in Paris.
They face an incredibly stacked heat featuring current world number one Oblique Seville of Jamaica (9.82 SB), alongside American heavyweights Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell. Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi will also be in the mix, guaranteeing a thunderous race to the finish line.
Men’s 400m – 21:52 SA Time
Zakithi Nene has been a model of consistency on the Diamond League circuit this year, racking up crucial points with a composed third-place finish in Silesia and a gritty second-place finish in Paris where he clocked a season’s best of 43.89s.
In Brussels, Nene will square off against Botswana’s world number one Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (43.44 SB), Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, and a trio of fast Americans led by Jacory Patterson. If Nene maintains his tactical discipline, he has a strong chance of stepping onto the final podium.
Saturday, 05 September 2026
Men’s 200m – 20:44 SA Time
South African in action: Sinesipho Dambile
Sinesipho Dambile has cemented his status as one of the men to beat on the international circuit. After securing second place at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting in 19.82 seconds and another silver in Lausanne, Dambile enters the final as a heavy favorite. Despite his success, the South African champion has remained grounded and analytical about his track execution, noting recently in Zurich, “I am happy with my consistency, but I still need to work on my execution… I enjoy and analyse at the same time.”
Dambile will need that perfect execution on Saturday night as he lines up against Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and America’s speedster Kenny Bednarek, who holds the fastest time recorded in the world this year (19.57 PB/19.62 SB). Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba will also line up in a heavily anticipated all-African rivalry.
Women’s 800m – 21:39 SA Time
South African in action: Prudence Sekgodiso
Capping off the action for Team SA is middle-distance sensation Prudence Sekgodiso. It has been an unprecedented milestone year for the 24-year-old, both on and off the track. Not only did she shatter her 800m personal best with a phenomenal 1:56.83 in Paris, but she was also recently crowned Female Athlete of the Year at the SA Sport Awards and named to the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list.
Sekgodiso will be looking to unleash her world-class top-end speed against a deep field that includes Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who set a blistering 1:53.70 this season, and the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol. With the shape she has shown all season, Sekgodiso remains a serious title contender to close out her historic 2026 campaign.
Broadcast Details:
South African fans can tune into the action live on Friday and Saturday evening. With multiple season’s bests in their arsenal and championship stakes on the line, the South African squad has positioned themselves beautifully for a dramatic conclusion to the track and field season.
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