Charles Dobson emerged as the surprise champion of the men’s 400m at the Diamond League Meeting final in Belgium, Brussels.
Dobson came from behind to claim the win, crossing the finish line first in a time of 44.49 seconds. Kirani James and Muzala Samukonga were forced to settle for second and third place in respective times of 44.63 seconds and 44.69 seconds.
Vernon Norwood faded to a fourth-place finish after having quite an impressive start but missed his steps during the race leading to missing a podium finish. It was a shock for Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith who went into the race as a favourite to win but ended up not finishing the race.
Fred Kerley has supported Letsile Tebogo in pleading with World Athletics to bring back an athletics competition that was done away with in 2020.
At the Paris Olympic Games, Dobson finished fourth in the men’s 400m semifinal and failed to proceed to the final of the race. Quincy Hall emerged champion in the final but he had to end his season after a slight injury.
The Briton proceeded to race in the men’s 4x400m relay where Great Britain finished third, a point of redemption after missing the individual slot in the final. After the Olympics, Dobson finished fifth at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne. He proceeded to a sixth-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome.
On his part, James failed to impress at the Paris Olympic Games, finishing fifth in the final and ending the season with a second-place finish is a morale booster as he eyes the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
After the Olympic Games, he finished second at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome and won the race at the Grand Prix Lombardia.
Samukonga has had nothing short of an amazing season, winning a bronze medal in the men’s 400m at the Paris Olympic Games. The Zambian finished second at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne. The Olympic 400m bronze medallist went ahead to win the Diamond League Meeting in Rome.