2025 Diamond League: Omanyala, Kipyegon, Chebet Out, Wanyonyi Chases History in Zurich

Kenyan trio of Ferdinand Omanyala, Faith Kipyegon, and Beatrice Chebet have opted out of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Final at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium.

Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man and 2023 Diamond League 100m runner-up, has withdrawn due to injury concerns, dashing hopes of becoming the first African man to win the 100m Diamond League trophy.

Kipyegon, the reigning queen of the 1500m, has also stepped aside, forfeiting the chance to win her fifth consecutive and sixth overall Diamond League title in the event.

Chebet, the world record holder in both the 5000m and 10,000m, has pulled out of the 3000/5000m final, ending her bid for a second straight and third overall Diamond League crown in the distance event.

But Kenya’s hopes are not entirely dashed.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the reigning Olympic champion in the 800m, is confirmed for Zurich and stands on the brink of history.

If victorious, he will become the first athlete to win the Diamond League 800m title three years in a row, a feat fellow Africans David Rudisha (2010, 2011), Emmanuel Korir (2021, 2022), Mohamed Aman (2012, 2013) and Nijel Amos (2014, 2015, and again in 2017) failed to achieve.