The Diamond League, a series of elite track and field meetings organisedannually by World Athletics, has announced a substantial increase in its prize money starting from next year.
This follow’s Sunday’s decision by the Diamond League General Assembly to raise the total amount of prize money paid over the course of the season to 9,240,000 US dollars, the highest ever since the Diamond League’s launch in 2010.
“The new total is almost a third higher than the sum paid during the pandemic-affected period of 2021-2024,” according to a press release.
PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN Starting from 2025, a total prize money of 500,000 USD will be on offer at each of the 14 regular series meetings, and 2,240,000 USD at the Wanda Diamond League Final. The total prize money per discipline will be between 30,000 USD and 50,000 USD at the series meetings and between 60,000 USD and 100,000 USD at the Final.
From 2021 until the just-concluded 2024 season, a total prize money of 25,000, spread from first place (which received 10,000 USD) to eighth place, was up for grabs in each Diamond discipline at every series meeting. Then in the final the Diamond League Champion in each discipline received 30,000 USD, with a further 30,000 USD distributed among the other finalists. This amounted to a total of 7 million USD in prize money for a season.
DIAMOND LEAGUE In the Diamond League, often referred to as the crown jewel of athletics, athletes from all over the world compete for points in their chosen disciplines in 14 meetings across four continents and the chance to take part in the Diamond League Final, the 15th meeting. The season-long battle usually takes place between April and September. Next year’s two-day Diamond League Final will be held in Zurich on 27th and 28th August 2025.
Petr Stastny, the CEO of Diamond League AG., said the Diamond League “remains committed to rewarding the athletes more, whilst at the same time ensuring the long term sustainability of the series, so it continues to provide vital competition to the athletes for many more years to come.”
GRAND SLAM TRACK A new global league, Grand Slam Track, founded by legendary sprinter Michael Johnson, will make its debut in April 2025. The GST, which will see the fastest men and women in the world go head to head, offers 262,500 USD in prize money at each of its four meets, with each winner receiving 100,000 USD.
ATHLOS NYC The Athlos meet in New York City, by Alexis Ohanian, is another new event that is drawing attention. This women-only event, with 110,500 USD in prize money per race (60,000 USD for each winner), will take place on September 26, featuring six premier races (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 100m hurdles).
ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP In 2026, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be hosted in Budapest, Hungary from 11-13 September. It is a new global competition that has a 10 million USD prize pot, with winners set to receive 150,000 USD. The Ultimate Championship is set to be held every two years and athletes will represent their national teams.
