by Deji Ogeyingbo
This is Stuart Weir’s feature on Swiss star Ditaji Kambundji, the sister of Mujinga Kambundji. Ditaji has her first senior title, the Women’s 60-meter hurdles, in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.
Ditaji Kambundji’s moment of glory
Ditaji Kambundji had been knocking on the door for the last few years. On Friday night in Apeldoorn, she kicked it open.
The 22-year-old Swiss hurdler delivered the race of her life at the European Indoor Championships, winning the 60m hurdles in a stunning 7.67 seconds. The time wasn’t just fast—it was historic. She broke the European indoor record set by Sweden’s Susanna Kallur in 2008 and moved to joint second on the all-time list. Only Devynne Charlton’s world record of 7.65 sits ahead of her.
For Kambundji, this wasn’t just a win. It was validation.
She had spent the last two years chasing the sport’s biggest prizes, always within reach but never quite there. She took Bronze at the previous European Indoors. Last summer, she won silver in the 100m hurdles at the outdoor European Championships in Rome. Each time, she got closer. Each time, she left knowing there was more to give.
This time, she took it all.
Kambundji’s rise through the ranks has been steady, if not spectacular. As a junior, she was one of the most promising hurdlers in the world. She came through the ranks alongside Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, both teenage stars with big futures. But while Nugent thrived in the NCAA, making an Olympic final, Kambundji’s progression was slower.
Still, she kept working. And she showed just how far she had come last year in Rome. Her 12.40-second run in the 100m hurdles final was the best of her life. It earned her a Silver medal but also signaled something bigger—her time was coming.
She entered this year’s indoor season in top form. Last month in Torun, she ran a Swiss record of 7.80. In Apeldoorn, she looked even better. She won her heat in 7.92, then her semifinal in 7.82. But in the end, she was untouchable.
Women’s sprint hurdles are in a golden era. The competition is as fierce as it has ever been. Charlton set the world indoor record just weeks ago. Nugent is coming off an NCAA title and an Olympic final. Tobi Amusan, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, and Keni Harrison have increased the outdoor event.
Now, Kambundji is part of that conversation. Her 7.67 doesn’t just make her a European champion—it makes her a global contender. The 100m hurdles at this year’s World Championships will be brutal. But after what she did in Apeldoorn, no one will overlook her.
Until now, Kambundji had never won a major senior title. The talent was there, but the podium always seemed just out of reach. The race itself was a masterclass. She exploded out of the blocks from the gun, staying low and aggressive over the first hurdle. By midway, she had already separated herself from experienced Dutch hurdeler Nadine Visser. Her form was crisp, and her rhythm was flawless. She barely lost momentum as she powered through the final strides, a sign of how well-drilled her technique has become.
The victory places her in rare company. Breaking a European record is no small feat, but to do it at 22 years old suggests there is still more to come. With every race, she is proving she can handle the pressure.
The women’s 100m hurdles are stacked like never before. The World Champs in Tokyo will feature a deep, unpredictable field. But with her European record, Kambundji has announced herself as a serious contender. The competition will be fierce, but she has momentum on her side.
Apeldoorn was her breakthrough. Now, the challenge is to build on it. The outdoor season will bring new tests. The expectations will be higher. But if there is one thing this race proved, it’s that Kambundji is ready.
