Qatar’s high jump icon Mutaz Essa Barshim has hailed the record prize money for the 2025 Diamond League season as a major step forward for the sport.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of the Doha Wanda Diamond League meeting set for May 16. He said it will boost morale among athletes and help support their families and communities.
“For the bonus, it’s quite good for athletics. Looking at the prize money, at least it will boost the morale of athletes—and be able to help their families and relatives as well. This is a very good step for our sport.”
In 2025, the Diamond League will distribute a record $9.24 million in prize money, with an additional $6 million allocated to athlete services, according to the Diamond League. The revamped structure marks the most significant investment in the series’ history.
Notably, the new format introduces Diamond+ disciplines, featured in four events at each regular meeting and eight at the final. Prize money per discipline will range from $30,000 to $50,000 during the regular season and up to $100,000 at the final. Top athletes in these events stand to earn between $10,000 and $50,000, with equal payouts for all genders.
Mutaz Barshim, a three-time Diamond League champion and Olympic gold medallist, will be the headline act at his home event in Doha. He will face off with reigning Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand in the men’s high jump.
Both athletes shared the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games—Kerr taking gold in a dramatic jump-off, and Barshim clinching bronze. Kerr’s road to gold included a dominant run in the Diamond League, with victories in Suzhou, Monaco, and London, each clearing 2.30m.
Barshim, who has collected an astonishing 23 Diamond League wins, will be aiming to add another to his tally as he builds momentum for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
With a record financial commitment, equal pay across genders, and increased support for athletes, the 2025 Diamond League season is shaping up as one of the most impactful and exciting in the history of global athletics.
