Massive payday on the line as SA athletes target Diamond League glory in Budapest
South Africa’s leading athletes head to Budapest for the inaugural Ultimate Championship, where a record $10m prize pot and R2.39m individual winner’s cheque await.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set to commence this weekend in Budapest, promises an unprecedented $10 million prize pool, making it the largest ever in athletics history. Each individual champion is ensured a hefty $150,000, more than double the $60,000 maximum at the Diamond League Final. South Africa's top athletes are targeting this prestigious event to add to their medal haul and history-making achievements.
Sinesipho Dambile, who secured silver in the Diamond League Final, is South Africa's leading medal hope. At 24, he has already dominated the 200m, winning Commonwealth Games gold, establishing a national record of 19.74 seconds, and consistently running under 20 seconds. A silver medal in Budapest could net him an estimated R1.2 million.
Other South African athletes like Akani Simbine, Gift Leotlela, Zakithi Nene, Prudence Sekgodiso, and Marioné Fourie are also set to compete in key events. The championship aims to gather Olympic and world champions, Diamond League winners, and top performers, creating a compact showdown. For Dambile, Nene, Simbine, Leotlela, Sekgodiso, and Fourie, this is an opportunity to turn their strong season into history, with the potential to earn over R2.39 million in prize money.
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