South African sprinter Gift Leotlela delivered a stunning performance at the Shanghai Diamond League, storming to victory in the men’s 100m with a blistering time of 9.97 seconds.
In one of the most competitive sprint races of the season, Leotlela held off a world-class field to clinch a memorable win with a legal wind reading of +0.6 m/s. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished second in 9.98s, edging out American sprint star Kenny Bednarek, who clocked the same time for third place.
Former world medallist Trayvon Bromell and rising Australian talent Lachlan Kennedy both recorded 10.01s, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine settled for sixth in 10.05s.
Leotlela’s sub-10 second run against such a stacked lineup marks a major statement in the men’s sprint scene as the 2026 season continues to heat up.