In the glittering rain with trophy and self-made dress: Ditaji Kambundji in blue
Image: Keystone
Mujinga and Ditaji Kambundji pose at the Sports Awards
Image: Keystone
Ditaji and Mujinga smile for the cameras
Image: Keystone
Ditaji Kambundji with World Championship gold
Image: Keystone
This time in red: Ditaji Kambundji still looks at the scoreboard in disbelief
Image: Keystone
In the glittering rain with trophy and self-made dress: Ditaji Kambundji in blue
Image: Keystone
Mujinga and Ditaji Kambundji pose at the Sports Awards
Image: Keystone
Ditaji and Mujinga smile for the cameras
Image: Keystone
Ditaji Kambundji with World Championship gold
Image: Keystone
This time in red: Ditaji Kambundji still looks at the scoreboard in disbelief
Image: Keystone
Ditaji Kambundji appears in blue in the spotlight at the Sports Awards. The dress is impressive and takes the focus away from her athletic performance.
30.03.2026, 16:01
30.03.2026, 16:31
SDA
The one-piece is simple but deliberately designed. In a calm shade of blue, without eye-catching patterns or exaggerated accents, it focuses on clear lines and a clean finish. It sits close to the body of the hurdles world champion without being constricting and looks elegant.
What at first glance appears to be a style-conscious choice tells a more personal story on closer inspection. Ditaji Kambundji designed and sewed the outfit herself. It is the result of a new hobby that she deliberately chose as a balance to top-class sport. "Sewing helps you switch off. It's not about the sport," she explains. In a career that is characterized by training schedules, performance data and international competitive pressure, she creates a space for herself that is free from expectations and results.
Balancing sport
The initial balance develops into a concrete goal. With an eye on the Sports Awards, the athlete decides to make her own dress. While she brings explosive energy over the hurdles in the competition, she works on the fabric calmly and with concentration, stitch by stitch.
But this project is not without pressure. The deadline of the event sets a clear framework for finishing on time. But the result is convincing. The woman from Bern clearly feels comfortable in her self-made dress and appears correspondingly self-confident. "I don't yet know for what occasion I'll wear the dress again, perhaps for a wedding," she says.
Emotional finale
In sporting terms, the evening in Leutschenbach primarily serves as an emotional conclusion to an extraordinary year. The 23-year-old finally made her breakthrough at the top of the world in 2025. Her triumph at the World Championships in Tokyo, where she won gold in the 100 m hurdles in 12.24 seconds, leaving the entire world elite in her wake: world record holder, Olympic champion and defending champion. This moment was given additional recognition with the Sportswoman of the Year award. "A wonderful recognition, I feel honored."
Despite all the emotions, Ditaji Kambundji is focusing on the future. The performance density in her discipline is extremely high, she emphasizes. In order to continue to be successful, she has to consistently deliver her best. The World Championship title gives her additional motivation, but she also wants to consciously put the pressure of expectations into perspective. She sees the 2026 season as a "normal season" with a clear highlight at the European Championships in Birmingham.
Aunt Ditaji
The fourth evening at the Sports Awards also brings Ditaji Kambundji full circle on a personal level. In 2019, she attended the event for the first time with her older sister Mujinga, who herself was named Sportswoman of the Year at the time. Looking back, she says she could not have imagined following in her footsteps one day. Now she is doing just that and writing a new chapter in her family's history.
She emphasizes the importance of her sister for her personal and sporting development at every opportunity. At the same time, she is delighted that her life has changed recently. She now loves being Aunt Ditaji and is happy that her sister has been able to open this chapter.
This evening combines many things: sporting success, family history and a personal touch, which is reflected in the dress she designed herself.
