Bahrain's Birhanu Balew made history on Saturday by winning the men's 5,000 metres title at the 2026 Diamond League final in Brussels. The 30-year-old crossed the line in 12 minutes 45.70 seconds, setting new Asian, Arab and Bahraini rec
TDT | Manama
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Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew made history on Saturday by winning the men’s 5,000 metres title at the 2026 Diamond League final in Brussels.
The 30-year-old crossed the line in 12 minutes 45.70 seconds, setting new Asian, Arab and Bahraini records while also clocking the fastest time in the world this year.
The kingdom’s distance-running star improved his previous Asian record of 12:47.73, set in Oslo in June, and finished ahead of Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana, who ran 12:46.73. Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi placed third in 12:47.29.
The victory earned him the first Diamond Trophy of his career and made him the first Bahraini male athlete to win a Diamond League title.
Balew joins Salwa Eid Naser, Ruth Jebet and Winfred Yavi among Bahrain’s Diamond League champions.
He will now turn his attention to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later this month.
