The major upsets at the Brussels Diamond League Finals ft. Sha'Carri Richardson, Kirani James [Image Source: Getty]

Top 5 shocking upsets at the Brussels Diamond League Finals ft Sha'Carri Richardson, Kirani James

Modified Sep 15, 2024 03:11 GMT

The Brussels Diamond League Final concluded on September 14 at the King Bauduouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium. Several top athletes produced impressive performances, with the likes of Mondo Duplantis and Femke Bol winning their respective events comprehensively.

However, the event was also marked by multiple upsets, some of which literally came out of blue. While everyone expected a tough fight between Sha'Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred, none were prepared for the American sprinter's underwhelming performance. Richardson barely managed to avoid a wooden spoon as she finished a disappointing eighth.

Likewise, nobody could have imagined that Ackeem Blake, who had not even qualified for the finals of the 100m at the Paris Olympics, would take home the Diamond League trophy.

But he did in style, overcoming athletes like Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley. Even Ryan Crouser, the current world and Olympic champion in the men's shot put, was outwitted by the emerging sensation Leonardo Fabbri of Italy, who had missed the podium at the Paris Olympics by a whisker.

Kirani James of Grenada was not prepared for the English challenge that would be presented by Charlie Dobson. The three time Olympic medalist was overcome by the British athlete in the final 100m, who won the race with a timing of 44.49 seconds!

Following are five of the biggest upsets caused at the Brussels Diamond League Finals 2024:

5 shocking upsets at the Brussels Diamond League Finals ft Sha'Carri Richardson, Kirani James

#1) Sha'Carri Richardson [Women's 100m] :

Sha'Carri Richardson in action during the 100m final at the Wanda Diamond League 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

The biggest highlight of the Brussels Diamond League Final 2024 would've been the clash between Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and Sha'Charri Richardson of the USA.

Richardson had lost to the sprinter from Saint Lucia in the final of women's 100m at the Paris Olympics, and the Brussels Diamond League Final was the moment for perfect retribution. However, even she wouldn't have been prepared for what came next. During the final, Richardson couldn't recover from her slow start, and just managed to avoid coming last, with a timing of 11.23 seconds.

#2) Kirani James [Men's 400m]:

Kirani James of Grenada in action at the Paris Olympics 2024 [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

Kirani James didn't exactly have the best time at the Paris Olympics, having finished a disappointing fifth in the final of the men's 400m. However, he was clearly not prepared for the shock he would receive at the Brussels Diamond League Final.

With the lone exception of Olympic champion Quincy Hall, who didn't have enough points to make it to the final, the Grenadian sprinter was facing some of the best athletes, including Olympic silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith from Great Britain and bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga of Zambia.

However, Charlie Dobson, who couldn't even make it to the final of the 400m at Paris Olympics, came out of the syllabus. He went for a late surge, and overcame Kirani James with a timing of 44.49 seconds! James was forced to settle for the second position, with a timing of 44.63 seconds, while Muzala Samukonga came third with a timing of 44.69 seconds.

#3) Ackeem Blake [Men's 100m]:

Ackeem Blake in action at the 100m final in the Brussels Diamond League Final 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

It had been eight years since a Jamaican sprinter last won the Diamond League trophy for the men's 100m, Asafa Powell being the last man to do so. Since then, nobody came close, let alone win the top honors.

However, at Brussels Diamond League Final, one man was ready to do the unthinkable. Ackeem Blake of Jamaica wasn't exactly the best of the current lot of Jamaican sprinters.

However, he surged ahead during the halfway mark in the 100m final, defeating Christian Coleman of USA with a timing of 9.93 seconds. Coleman came second with a timing of 10 seconds, while Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley came third with a timing of 10.01 seconds

#4) Faith Cherotich [Women's 3000m Steeplechase]:

Faith Cherotich of Kenya [Center] in action at the Women's 3000m Steeplechase final [Image Source: Getty]

Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain had almost broken the world record at the Rome Diamond League, and was the top favorite to win the Diamond League trophy for the women's 3000m steeplechase.

However, Faith Cherotich of Kenya had other ideas. The Kenyan runner was lucky enough to get onto the podium at the Paris Olympics, with a bronze medal for her timing of 8 minutes, 55.15 seconds, which was her personal best.

Despite running slower than expected at the Brussels Diamond League Final 2024, Cherotich still managed to overcome Winfred Yavi in the final leg of the race, to win the Diamond League trophy with a time of 9 minutes, 2.36 seconds.

#5) Larissa Iapichino [Women's Long Jump]:

Larissa Iapichino in action at the Paris Olympics finals of Women's Long Jump [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

The Italian long jumper had missed the podium at the Paris Olympics by just 9 minutes, as the bronze medalist Jasmine Moore had made a best attempt of 6.96m, while Larissa Iapichino could jump only upto 6.87m.

However, at the Brussels Diamond League Final 2024, Iapichino left nothing to chance. She made a best attempt of 6.80m, which was more than enough to win the gold medal, since Monae Nichols jumped up to only a best of 6.68m, while Jasmine Moore could manage a best of just 6.61m.