2022 Season Review: Part Five

After touring four continents in four months across 12 series meetings, the 2022 Wanda Diamond League finally reached its dramatic conclusion in early September at the season finale in Zurich. 

The two-day bonanza of athletics action saw all 32 Wanda Diamond League champions crowned, with many of them winning the title for the first time in their careers. From the records and the revivals to the dominators and the defenders, here’s a look back at all the action from the 13th Diamond League Final. 

Kovacs smashes the series record 

Summer in the city proved to be quite a rainy affair on day one of the Diamond League Final, as the athletes were forced to battle tricky conditions at the street event on Sechseläutenplatz. 

The gathering gloom could not break Joe Kovacs stride, however, as the US shot put star stormed to his fifth successive win of the season with a Diamond League record of 23.23m. He was joined on the shot put podium by compatriot Chase Ealey, who completed an even more dominant season with a perfect record, having won every single competition of the campaign. 

Elsewhere, Gianmarco Tamberi edged out Juvaughn Harrison to defend his title in the men’s high jump and Nina Kennedy soared to a maiden Diamond Trophy in the women’s pole vault, while it was the Kenyans who dominated the 5000m in front of Zurich’s famous opera house.

Nicholas Kimeli Kipkorir followed up his victory in Rome to win a men’s race which had been difficult to call, while compatriot Beatrice Chebet claimed the women’s title.