The finale of the world’s premier one-day athletics series, the Diamond League, is just one day away from kicking off in Zurich on 27–28 August. The Final is a winner-takes-all event where Diamond League champions are crowned in each discipline. Only the top-ranked athletes from the regular season earn the right to compete, making it one of the most exclusive and competitive stages in global track and field.

On this stage, a trio of Kiwi world-class athletes will line up in Zurich, with Hamish Kerr (high jump), Zoe Hobbs (100m), and Tom Walsh (shot put) all earning their place among the world’s elite.

Olympic champion Hamish Kerr has pieced together a strong and consistent Diamond League campaign in 2025, highlighted by a season-best clearance of 2.33m to win in Chorzów, Poland, on 16 August. That performance marked his highest jump of the season and reaffirmed his status as one of the top contenders heading into Zurich.

Earlier in the season, Kerr opened with a 2.23m jump for second place in Doha, followed by a 2.25m winning effort in Rabat. He placed sixth in both Rome (2.20m) and Monaco (2.23m), and added a fourth-place finish in Brussels with a clearance of 2.18m.

Despite some fluctuations, Kerr has consistently remained among the top performers in the field. His ability to peak at the right time makes him a serious threat for the Diamond League title.

Zoe Hobbs continues to break barriers for New Zealand sprinting. The national record holder lowered her own mark again this season, clocking a blistering 10.94 seconds to set a new New Zealand record. That performance, along with her first-ever Diamond League podium in Monaco, has secured her a coveted spot in the season finale.

This will be Hobbs’ second appearance in a Diamond League Final, having previously lined up in Eugene in 2023. Her return to the season finale is a testament to her growth and consistency on the world stage. As the only Kiwi woman ever to compete in a Diamond League 100m final, Hobbs continues to blaze a trail for sprinters across Aotearoa.

Her 2025 Diamond League performances include:
11.27 (+2.0) – 7th place, Doha (16 May)
11.16 (+0.2) – 5th place, Rabat (25 May)
11.12 (-1.4) – 3rd place, Monaco (11 July)

Zoe Hobbs competes at the Zurich Diamond League in 2023 | Photo: Michael Dawson

Tom Walsh has delivered a solid and competitive Diamond League season in 2025, headlined by a commanding victory in Rome on 6 June, throwing 21.89m to take first place. That performance marked his thirteenth career Diamond League win and his best throw of the season to date.

Returning to international competition healthy again after recovering from injury setbacks following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Walsh opened his international season with a 21.41m effort for sixth place in Rabat, followed by his Rome win. In Eugene, he threw 21.50m to finish eighth in a stacked field, before bouncing back with a 21.72m fourth-place finish in Chorzów. He followed that up with 21.47m for fourth in Lausanne.

Walsh’s ability to consistently throw over 21.40m across multiple meets shows he’s back, building his rhythm and ready to challenge the best at the Diamond League final.

The Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich (27–28 August) will bring together the best of the best. For Kerr, Hobbs, and Walsh, it’s the last big dance before descending on the World Athletics Championships. A strong showing in Zurich could provide a crucial confidence boost ahead of lining up in Tokyo in September.

You can watch the Diamond League live and for free in New Zealand on the Diamond League YouTube Channel.

You can catch Tom Walsh at 3:05 AM on the 28th of August NZT.
Hamish Kerr will jump at 3:53 AM NZT on the 29th of August NZT.
Zoe Hobbs will race over the 100m at 6:02 AM on the 29th of August NZT.

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