Tokyo World Championships: Swiss Star Ditaj Kambudji Shocks Masai Russell and Co to Clinch 100mH Gold

Kambudji stunned a star-studded field that included Massai Russell and Tobi Amusan to clinch gold in Tokyo.

Tokyo witnessed one of the biggest upsets of the World Athletics Championships on Monday night as Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji shocked the world to claim 100m hurdles gold.

Coming into the final, Kambundji was far from a favorite. At 23, she wasn’t even the most famous athlete in her own family—her sister Mujinga Kambundji, a double indoor world champion and outdoor medallist, usually held that spotlight.

The competition also included Olympic champion Masai Russell, world-record holder Tobi Amusan, and the season’s consistent standout Grace Stark. On paper, the final seemed wide open—but no one expected this.

Kambudji Dominates From Start to Finish 

From the gun, Kambundji exploded off the blocks. She ran with precision, rhythm, and power over every hurdle, crossing the line in 12.24 seconds, smashing her personal best and coming close to Yordanka Donkova’s 27-year-old European record. Amusan claimed silver, Stark took bronze, and Russell—who had been the fastest woman of the year—hit hurdles and ended fourth.

For Kambundji, this was the race of her life. After struggling to carry her strong indoor form from 2025 into the outdoor season, she delivered when it mattered most.

“It’s crazy. I knew I had it in me,” Kambundji said after the race. “All that mattered today was the title. Getting a personal best is nice, but I am world champion—that’s what counts.”

I Was Thinking About My Sister- Kambudji

There was also an emotional angle: Kambundji ran on the same Tokyo track where her older sister competed in three Olympic finals. 

“We definitely have a good relationship with this track,” she said. “I was thinking a lot about my sister. I know she’ll be thrilled—I’m bringing home something incredible.”

The semifinals had set the stage for drama. Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, one of the season’s consistent performers, missed out on the final, while Stark won her semifinal ahead of Kambundji.

 Amusan edged Nadine Visser to post the fastest qualifying time, and Russell had to fight her way through the third semifinal. Yet in the final, Kambundji turned the expected order on its head, leaving the world stunned.

From underdog to world champion in a single, electrifying race, Ditaji Kambundji has announced herself as one of the brightest rising stars in women’s sprint hurdles.