Florence is set to welcome some of the biggest stars in US athletics next June as the likes of Joe Kovacs, Erriyon Knighton and Grant Holloway head to Italy for the third leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League season.
Reigning Wanda Diamond League champion in the men's shot put, Joe Kovacs has good memories of the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala. His victory in Rome last year with 21.85m was the first of five straight Diamond League wins as he rampaged to a third career Diamond Trophy in a standout season. The two-time world champion now also holds the Diamond League record, having smashed Ryan Crouser's previous mark with 23.23m in the Wanda Diamond League Final last September.
Fellow American Erriyon Knighton will also be in action in Florence as he returns to Diamond League action after taking his first steps on the circuit in 2022. The 19-year-old made his series debut in the 100m in Eugene last year, before going on to make four appearances in the 200m after the World Championships. In Brussels, he picked up his first ever Diamond League win, and with a personal best of 19.49, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the 200m in Florence.
Grant Holloway completes the trio of US stars, as he looks to defend his Diamond League title in the men's 110m hurdles. Holloway's title win in 2022 was the first of his career, and added the Diamond Trophy to a glistening array of medals which includes two World Championships golds and one Olympic silver. In Florence, he will be setting his sights on Omar McLeod's meeting record of 13.01, set at the Wanda Diamond League meeting two years ago.
The Wanda Diamond League is athletics' premier one-day meeting 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.
