Doha, Qatar: Organisers of the Doha Diamond League Meeting on May 8 have confirmed that athletes who set new meeting records at the 2026 event will be awarded a $5000 bonus, an innovative concept that was first introduced in 2025.
The Diamond League series broke new ground in 2025 with $9.84m awarded in prize money across the series as a whole, the largest prize pool in Diamond League history.
While the introduction of meeting record bonus payments in Doha provided another welcome incentive for athletes, the high standard of past-performances meant that only Bahrain’s Olympic silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser came close. Her winning time of 49.83 in the women’s 400m matched the meeting record set by Allyson Felix (USA) in 2008, but it wasn’t quick enough for the outright best required to meet the criteria for the $5000 bonus payment.
Qatar Athletics Federation President Mohammed Al Fadala (pictured), said: “The Doha Meeting has established itself as one of the leading Wanda Diamond League fixtures and feedback from our athletes, their coaches and their managers, repeatedly tells us that our exceptional hospitality is a key factor in them wanting to return.
“As Mutaz Barshim said in last year’s press conference, track and field isn’t an easy job, so it’s very important that we value our athletes and take care of them, as well as providing the perfect stage for top quality competition. By continuing to award bonus payments for new meeting records we are incentivising athletes to perform, but we are also rewarding them for their efforts.
“Mutaz acknowledged that change is positive and that as a meeting, and across the sport as a whole, we were moving in the right direction. We in Doha remain committed to innovation and change and that remains crucial if we’re to continue to grow our reputation and profile globally.”
Earlier, multiple Olympic, world and European champion Mondo Duplantis (SWE) has confirmed he will compete in Doha.
The 26-year-old, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion, is also the meeting record holder in Doha with 6.02m, set in 2022.
He arrives following another standout season, having broken the world record for the 14th time, most recently with 6.30m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Despite past challenges in Doha, Duplantis says the Qatari capital remains a favourite stop on the circuit.
“We’ve had a couple of challenges in the past for sure, but I’ve always loved coming to Doha,” said the 2025 World Athlete of the Year.
“Doha is the perfect meet to kick off my outdoor season. I definitely prefer the warm weather, and hopefully conditions will be right to jump high, challenge my meeting record and set a strong benchmark for the year ahead.”
