The world's best track and field athletes, including nine Olympic champions, will head to the Italian capital for the 13th round of the 2024 Diamond League on 30 August.
The 13th stage of the Diamond League meet will take place on Friday 30 August at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, with a regular capacity of 55,211. Diamond League action in the stadium begins at 7:30pm local time on Friday with the men’s discus. It’s a lineup that should somewhat meet the needs of fans fighting the Olympics hangover.
Who to Watch
At least nine Olympic champions are likely to compete at the Golden Gala in Rome: from throwers Ryan Crouser, winner of a third consecutive Olympic shot put title, and Roje Stona, the shock discus champion from Paris, to newly crowned gold medallist jumpers Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hamish Kerr, to track stars Masai Russell (100 hurdles), Winfred Yavi (3000 steeplechase), and of course Tebogo, the 200m champion.
Sprints
On August 30, four of the men who lined up when Noah Lyles won gold in a thrilling 100-metre men’s Olympic final will reunite at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea. Jamaica's silver medallist Kishane Thompson; USA’s Fred Kerley, the bronze medal winner; Italian Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs; and Bostwana’s 200m Olympic hero Letsile Tebogo, who was sixth in the 100m, will all be in Rome.
The season world leader over the 100m Thompson, who came up second by just five-thousandths of a second in 100m final at the Stade de France, will line-up for his first post-Olympics race after skipping the Diamond League in Silesia on Sunday 25 August, where Kerley won. Kerley is back at the Golden Gala seeking a third consecutive 100m victory while Jacobs, fifth in Paris returns to the Olimpico stadium where he clinched the European gold. Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala, the second fastest man this year, is looking to bounce back after missing out on the Olympics final. He was second behind Kerley in Silesia while the Italian Jacobs finished fourth.
Tebogo was victorious in his first meeting since Paris 2024, comfortably winning the 200m at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League. He didn’t fancy his chances going into the race though as he hadn’t “trained for the last eight days” as he had been celebrating his historic medal back home. He cruised to victory in 19.64 seconds ahead of the American pair of Erriyon Knighton and Kerley, before he asserted himself again over the 200m in Silesia.
Field Events
The field action should be equally captivating with Crouser tipped to beat the five-year-old meeting record of 21.97 meters. His team USA teammate Joe Kovacs, the winner in Silesia, and Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell are all confirmed for Rome. Home favourite Leonardo Fabbri, who was fifth in Paris, will also return to the scene he won a continental gold.
Stona, the men’s discus Olympic champion, and the world record holder and Paris silver medallist Mykolas Alekna are among the top seven men from the Paris 2024 Games final who will be present in Rome.
American gold medallist Davis-Woodhall goes in as the favourite in the women's long jump against fellow podium finishers Malaika Mihambo of Germany and compatriot Jasmine Moore.
Where to Watch
Action will be streamed in a number of territories on the Wanda Diamond League YouTube page, but the live stream will not be available in all territories. BBC has the rights in the UK and will broadcast it on BBC Two, while for audiences in the U.S., live coverage will be provided by NBC/Peacock. SuperSport is the rightsholder for the 2024 Diamond League in most of Africa. Please check your local listings to find out more information.
It's a Race to the Finish Line
The Rome Diamond League promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with Olympic champions and world-class athletes competing for glory. Don't miss out on the action as the world's best track and field athletes chase their dreams and push the boundaries of human performance.
