In athletics, careers are often made in a single moment. One well-timed dip, one perfectly executed jump or a few millimetres of sand can be the difference between immortality and ignominy. Yet behind every big moment, there is always a long and arduous journey to the top.
In the Wanda Diamond League, it also comes down to one day. Only those who perform at the series final can be crowned Wanda Diamond League champion, joining the likes of Usain Bolt, Valerie Adams and Allyson Felix in the series' pantheon of past champions. But more than any other global title in track and field, the Diamond League is also about consistency. Because to be at the final, you first have to get there.
For the world's best athletes, that means a gruelling journey across four different continents, from the Yangtze river delta to the west coast of the USA. It means pitting yourself against the very best of your discipline week in, week out, and being able to deliver consistently at the very highest level.
In 2024, the Road to the Final was longer than ever, with 14 series meetings between April and September. It began with a historic night in Xiamen on April 20, and culminated in a final flourish in Zurich on September 5. Along the way, we saw world records, Olympic dress rehearsals and the rise of new superstars in every discipline from the 100m to the shot put. This, as always, was the stage on which the world's best got in shape for those gargantuan, career-defining moments.
You can now relive every stage of the 2024 Road to the Final in our extended highlights series, with nine-minute recaps of all 14 series meetings. Scroll down or click here to view the series in full.
