This proves why the Diamond League is stuck in the past and can’t be taken seriously. SML, undoubtedly the greatest female track and field athlete today (soon to be all time), announces she’ll run the 200 and 400 at the DL final (reposting the DL official instagram page of the announcement)—huge news for the sport. It’s a chance to draw in more fans, give the league much-needed visibility, and spotlight a star who is purposeful with their racing.
But instead of capitalizing on the moment, the Diamond League completely fumbles it. After announcing her participation, they backtrack because she didn’t qualify by points. Sure, maybe Petr Stastny was technically right to say she couldn’t compete under the rules. But the real issue is the utter mismanagement. How does an organization at this level let something like this happen? It’s embarrassing.
This isn’t about whether the rules were followed—it’s about the disorganization and poor communication that led to this mess. The Diamond League’s leadership let it spiral into a public fiasco. Announcing Sydney’s participation only to revoke it days later? It’s sloppy, amateurish, and humiliating for the circuit. Sydney has 1.5 million followers—far more than the Diamond League’s 900k—and yet they’ve managed to turn what should’ve been a huge boost for the sport into a PR disaster.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t a global sports league. It’s the biggest track and field circuit out there, but it’s run like a European sideshow, completely out of touch with how to promote the sport and handle its stars. This situation only strengthens the case for new leagues like Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track League, which could finally bring real professionalism and innovation to track and field.
Now, on to the complaints about how often she competes. First of all, she ran multiple times ahead of the Olympic Trials—yes, mostly in the U.S., but let’s not pretend it’s easy for U.S. athletes to travel to Europe for one-off races multiple times a year. Coming from L.A. to Europe for a Diamond League event with low prize money just doesn’t make sense. This is part of the problem: the Diamond League doesn’t provide enough incentive for top athletes to compete more often.
But really, who cares how often she races? SML is one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time. Every time she steps on the track, she’s breaking records or putting on a masterclass. She’s incredibly purposeful and strategic with her race plan and execution. So instead of complaining about how often she competes, people should be grateful they get to witness her greatness whenever she does. It’s rare, it’s exceptional, and every race she runs is something to be celebrated.
The Diamond League had a golden opportunity to elevate the sport with Sydney at the final. Instead, they mismanaged it from start to finish. And that’s why they’re stuck in the past and deserve to be left behind.