Yan Ziyi (R) of China celebrates with her coach Lu Xiurong after winning the women’s javelin final and setting a new meeting record at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
China’s 18-year-old sensation Yan Ziyi completed a perfect Diamond League season on Saturday, coming from behind to win the women’s javelin with a meeting record of 68.42 meters and secure her first Diamond League Final title.
Her compatriot Feng Bin had won the women’s discus a day earlier, meaning China’s only two qualifiers at the season finale both left Brussels as champions.
It was Yan’s fifth win in as many Diamond League appearances this season. She also swept victories in Xiamen, Oslo, Paris and Monaco, with her winning mark exceeding 67 meters at every meeting.
Yan trailed after three rounds before moving into the lead in the fourth. She then improved to 68.42m with her fifth attempt to seal the title.
Paris 2024 Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan finished second with a season-best 65.44m, while Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado took third with 64.07m.
Yan threw 71.74m in Xiamen earlier this season to break the Asian, world U20, and Diamond League records. The mark put her second on the women’s javelin all-time list, behind only the world record of 72.28m set by Czech veteran Barbora Špotáková in 2008.
Yan emerged as one of the sport’s brightest young talents when she won the women’s javelin title at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships at the age of 16. She has since improved the world U20 record several times.
In Friday’s women’s discus final, Feng took the lead with 66.67m in the second round before improving to a season-best 67.46m in the fourth to secure her first Diamond League Final title.
Two-time Olympic and reigning world champion Valarie Sion of the United States finished second with 66.92m, falling short in her bid for a sixth consecutive Diamond Trophy. Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands placed third with 64.66m.
Feng became the third Chinese athlete to win a Diamond League Final title after shot putter Gong Lijiao and javelin thrower Lyu Huihui. Yan joined the list as the fourth the day later.
The 2026 Diamond League season lasted 16 weeks and visited 15 cities across four continents. The two-day Final in Brussels featured 32 disciplines.
Under the World Athletics qualification system, Diamond League Final winners qualify automatically for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The inaugural edition will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from September 11 to 13, where Yan will contest the women’s javelin. Feng will not compete, as the women’s discus is not included in the program. ■
Yan Ziyi of China celebrates after winning the women’s javelin final and setting a new meeting record at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Yan Ziyi of China competes during the women’s javelin final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Yan Ziyi of China celebrates with the trophy after claiming the title of the women’s javelin event at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Yan Ziyi of China competes during the women’s javelin final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Yan Ziyi of China competes during the women’s javelin final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Feng Bin of China competes during the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Feng Bin of China celebrates after winning the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Feng Bin of China competes during the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Feng Bin (L) of China celebrates after winning the women’s discus throw final at the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
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