And the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm certainly has a special atmosphere.
The venue for the 1912 games has seen many of the world’s best over the past 103 years and, since 1967, it has hosted an annual international meeting which has been part of the IAAF Diamond League since 2010.
This year sees a new chapter in the meet’s history, as it bears a new sponsor’s name, Bauhaus, as IAAF Diamond League makes its final stop before a hiatus ahead of September’s finals.
Retrospective…
The long jump competition at the 2011 edition of the meeting saw Australia’s Mitchell Watt etch his name into the Diamond League record books, as the Olympic and World medallist soared to 8.54 metres – still the furthest jump ever seen in the IAAF Diamond League.
In the 1980s Patrick Sjöberg was an Olympic medalist and world champion and still jointly holds the European record in the high jump, with his 2.42m leap coming in 1987 at Stockholm, the same year that he won the world title in Rome.
Four other meeting records have been set in the IAAF Diamond League era. 2010 was a good year for American athletes, as Christian Cantwell took the shot put with a huge 22.09m and 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson won the 400m hurdles in 47.65 seconds, a time that only he has bettered in the IAAF Diamond League when he won in Lausanne in the same year.
More recently, Sandra Perkovic set a discus meeting record of 68.77m in 2012, while only last year Russia’s Mariya Abakumova threw the furthest javelin ever witnessed in the Olympic stadium with a 68.59m effort.
Diamond Race Leaders
Nine Diamond Race leaders head to Stockholm looking to consolidate their positions with the final points available before the finals in September.
Christina Schwanitz (shot put), Caterine Ibarguen (triple jump), Piotr Malachowski (discus), Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou (pole vault), Greg Rutherford (long jump), Mutaz Essa Barshim (high jump), Barbora Spotakova (javelin), David Oliver (110m hurdles) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (100m) all compete, with Ibarguen already guaranteed the Diamond Trophy provided that she turns up in Brussels, such is the lead that she has built in her previous four appearances.
A win would put Schwanitz in the same position, while Kiriakopoulou could also make her lead unassailable if she wins, provided her Brazilian rival Fabiana Murer doesn’t secure second place.
The other seven Diamond Race events are wide open in Stockholm. Indeed, none of the competitors in the steeplechase have scored points in the IAAF Diamond League this season, while Molly Huddle, with two points, is the highest ranked competitor in the 3000m.
Zharnel Hughes, the leader in the 200m, will lose his position should Anaso Jobodwana finish 2nd or better – something the South African has already achieved this year.
Zuzana Hejnova can move ahead of Kaliese Spencer in the 400m hurdles if she repeats her victory from London, while Rose Mary Almanza is the highest ranked athlete in the 800m and could be best placed to pick up four points in the unusual absence of reigning champion Eunice Sum.
Dean Hardman for the IAAF Diamond League
