Joint Olympic high jump champions Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi will go head to head once again at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia on July 16th, as both look to emulate their 2021 form in their bids for the world and Diamond League titles this year.
Italy's Tamberi and Qatar's Barshim stole headlines and hearts across the world when they spontaneously agreed to share the gold medal after tying on both height and countback at the men's high jump final at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago. It was a moment which cemented an already firm friendship and made the two stars instant legends of athletics.
The two high jumpers are also among the most successful athletes in Diamond League history, with 24 victories and five series titles between them since Barshim first won the Diamond Trophy back in 2014.
Tamberi is the reigning Diamond League champion after successfully defending the title in a thrilling final at the Sechseläutenplatz in Zurich last September, while Barshim has won the Diamond Trophy three times in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
"In an event where turnover among the elite is high and the shelf life of leaders is generally limited, these two are monumental figures. And they are both charismatic to boot," said Silesia's sporting director Piotr Malachowski.
Both men have competed at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Meeting before, with Barshim jumping in Warsaw in 2016 and Tamberi winning at the Silesia Stadium in 2021.
"I am very excited. I have competed in Silesia before in 2021 and it was an amazing atmosphere," said the Italian.
Tamberi and Barshim will be joined by a host of other international stars in Silesia, including Norway's 1500m Olympic and Diamond League champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and pole vault world record holder Armand "Mondo" Duplantis.
The Wanda Diamond League meeting in Silesia is the eighth leg of athletics' premier one-day series, which comprises 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.
Click here to see the 2023 Wanda Diamond League calendar in full.
