Anticipation Builds for the Bislett Games
Just three days following a thrilling event in Stockholm, the Wanda Diamond League series will continue its journey to Oslo for the highly anticipated Bislett Games, taking place on Wednesday, June 10. This prestigious meet promises an electrifying atmosphere as athletes from around the globe come together to showcase their talents. Middle-distance rivalries are reignited, with notable clashes such as Karsten Warholm versus Alison dos Santos in the 400m hurdles, and the much-anticipated Diamond League debut of Julien Alfred in the 100m after her recent victory in the 200m event held in Rome. The excitement is further heightened with Gout Gout set to compete against Letsile Tebogo in the 200m race.
Among the standout performers, USA's world indoor champion Cooper Lutkenhaus made a remarkable entrance into the Diamond League in Stockholm, clocking an impressive time of 1:42.70, which stands as the fastest outdoor time recorded globally this year. Lutkenhaus triumphed over 2023 world champion Marco Arop in that race and is primed for another showdown in Oslo. This time, they will also face formidable competitors including Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Max Burgin, who recently outpaced Wanyonyi to claim victory during the Diamond League meeting in Rabat.
A Star-Studded Lineup in Middle-Distance Events
The excitement continues as Yared Nuguse, an Olympic bronze medallist, joins the fray for the Scandinavian double, having won the 1500m in Stockholm against tough contenders Cameron Myers and Timothy Cheruiyot. The trio will compete in the Dream Mile in Oslo, joined by Narve Gilje Nordås and Hobbs Kessler. The middle-distance races will be further enriched by the presence of all three medallists from last year's world 1500m championships: champion Isaac Nader, silver medallist Jake Wightman, and bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot, raising the stakes for this exciting event.
In the 5000m race, spectators can expect a fierce competition featuring four of the fastest men of 2025: double Olympic medallist Grant Fisher, world 10,000m bronze medallist Andreas Almgren, and last year’s Bislett Games top two finishers Nico Young and Biniam Mehary, as they go head-to-head with world silver medallist Isaac Kimeli, Jacob Krop, and Birhanu Balew. Meanwhile, in the women's 3000m, Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw and Freweyni Hailu, who claimed victories in the 5000m in Rome and 1500m in Rabat respectively, will face off against world U20 champion Aleshign Baweke and other talented athletes.
Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred, fresh off her 200m victory in Rome, will make her highly awaited return to the 100m in the Diamond League, competing against world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt and Patrizia Van der Weken. Gout Gout, a world U20 silver medallist, will be making his senior Diamond League debut in the 200m alongside Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, setting the stage for an exhilarating race.
The women's 400m will see a rematch between local favorite Henriette Jæger and Czechia’s world indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel, both of whom finished at the top in Rome. They will be joined by competitive athletes including Natalia Bukowiecka and Nickisha Pryce, ensuring a thrilling race.
Karsten Warholm, a home star and three-time world champion, will return to the Bislett Stadium aiming to reclaim his winning streak after setting a world 300m hurdles record in his last appearance. He faces a tough challenge from Brazil’s 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos, who has bested him in previous encounters this year. The evening will culminate with their highly anticipated race, joined by Abderrahman Samba, Matheus Lima, and Trevor Bassitt.
In addition, the women's shot put event will feature world champion Jessica Schilder, who seeks her third Diamond League win of the season following impressive performances in previous meets. She will compete against world indoor champion Chase Jackson and Olympic champion Yemisi Mabry (née Ogunleye), adding to the excitement of the event. The javelin throwers will include China's Yan Ziyi, who recently made history with a remarkable throw of 71.74m, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition among elite athletes.
As reported by worldathletics.org.
