Klaudia Kazimierska breaks Polish record and wins 1500m Diamond League title in Brussels

Record victory in Brussels

Klaudia Kazimierska won the women's 1500 metres at the Diamond League final in Brussels on Saturday, clocking 3:54.05 to set a Polish national record, a meeting record, and the fastest time in the world in 2026. The 25-year-old improved the meeting mark of 3:54.75 set by Faith Kipyegon in 2024. She crossed the line ahead of world silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi of Kenya, who finished in 3:54.72, and Jessica Hull of Australia, who took third in 3:54.73. Before the race in the Belgian capital, Kazimierska sat fifth in the 2026 world standings, but the performance lifted her to the top spot globally. She became only the second European female runner under the age of 26 to break 3:55 in the event, joining Paula Ivan of Romania, who ran 3:53.96 at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Kazimierska spoke about her tactical execution after the race.

The result surprised me just as much as everyone else. I worked on many small elements and it seems they came together perfectly. It is the fruit of consistent work. I think more successes will come because I am still chasing victories and titles. This race came at the perfect moment. After the European Championships, I wanted to reach a second peak in form.

Progression across the 2026 season

The victory capped a series of personal and national milestones for Kazimierska throughout 2026. Earlier in the season, she set a Polish record in the one-mile run in Eugene with a time of 4:17.90. In July, she claimed domestic titles at the Polish championships in Białystok, winning both the 800 metres and 1500 metres. She carried that form into August, securing a silver medal in the 1500 metres at the European Championships in Birmingham. Less than two weeks prior to Brussels, on 23 August, she had lowered the Polish 1500-metre record to 3:55.59 at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzów. Her previous best Diamond League result was a second-place finish in Rome.

Polish performances at the final

Kazimierska became the third Polish athlete to claim a Diamond League overall trophy, joining discus thrower Piotr Małachowski, who won the series in 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016, and high jumper Mateusz Kołodziejski. Kołodziejski secured his high jump title on Friday during the opening day of the Brussels meeting. Winners at the final earned higher prize money, the Diamond Trophy, and wild-card invitations to the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Other Polish competitors also featured in Brussels over the weekend. In the men's javelin throw, Dawid Wegner placed second with a personal best of 87.47 metres, moving to second on Poland's all-time list behind national record holder Marcin Krukowski (89.55 metres in 2021). Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the javelin event with an 89.04-metre throw, while Keshorn Walcott finished third. In track events, Natalia Bukowiecka finished seventh in the 400 metres, and Pia Skrzyszowska placed sixth in the 100-metre hurdles.