Top performers of London Diamond League 2024 ft. Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Jul 21, 2024 03:18 GMT

Nothing could have been a better practice session for the 2024 Paris Olympics than the London Diamond League. The London Stadium witnessed some record-breaking performances as well as some unexpected upsets.

While athletes like Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas proved why they are serious contenders for Olympic gold in Paris, Leonardo Fabbri and Matthew Hudson-Smith also showed their mettle at the London Diamond League.

Here are some of the best performers from the London Athletics Meet, also known as the London Diamond League 2024:

Top 5 performers from London Diamond League 2024 ft Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas

#5) Matthew Hudson-Smith [Men's 400 m]:

This British sprinter has proved his mettle with a new European record of 43.74 seconds at London. Vernon Norwood of the USA finished second with a personal best timing of 44.1 seconds.

Matthew Hudson-Smith after the race at London[Image Source: Getty]

Interestingly, Matthew Hudson-Smith is quickly rising up the ranks in the run-up to the Paris Olympics. He had won a silver medal at the same event in the IAAF World Championships the previous year, with a timing of 44.31 seconds.

#4) Keely Hodgkinson [Women's 800 m]:

Having won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, respectively, the British middle-distance runner looks all set to change the color of her medal at the Paris Olympics with her current performance at the London Diamond League.

Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain after winning the race at the London Diamond League [Image Source: Getty]

At London, Hodgkinson recorded a timing of 1:54.6, a new European record, to finish first. Her compatriots Jeema Reekie and Georgia Bell finished second and third, respectively.

#3) Leonardo Fabbri [Men's Shot Put]:

This Italian shot putter delivered one of the biggest upsets imaginable at the London Diamond League.

Leonardo Fabbri of Italy in action [Image Source: Getty]

By the first four throws at the shot put event, defending Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser led the list as usual, with his best attempt of 22.23 m. Payton Otterdahl and Joe Kovacs stood second and third, respectively, with best attempts of 22.13 m and 22.03 m.

However, in his fifth attempt, Leonardo Fabbri threw the shot to 22.52 m, finishing well ahead of Ryan Crouser. Only a couple of months ago, Fabbri had attained a personal best of 22.95 m, and with this move, it looks like Ryan Crouser can face some serious challenges at the Paris Olympics.

#2) Gabby Thomas [Women's 200 m]:

Despite a sluggish start, Gabby Thomas proved why she is one of the best bets for an Olympic gold medal.

For the halfway mark at the London Diamond League, Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain led the pack, until Gabby Thomas gave it her all to finish the race with a timing of 21.82 seconds.

Julian Alfred of St. Lucia set a national record of 21.86 to finish second, while Dina Asher-Smith finished third with a timing of 22.07 seconds.

#1) Noah Lyles [Men's 100 m]:

Like Gabby Thomas, Noah Lyles had a slow start as well. However, the London Diamond League meet proved why this American sprinter is dead serious about the Olympic gold medal.

Noah Lyles in action at London[Image Source: Getty]

Lyles finished first with a personal best of 9.81 seconds at the London Stadium. Akani Simbine of South Africa finished second with a timing of 9.86 seconds, while Letsile Tebogo of Botswana finished third with a timing of 9.88 seconds, respectively.