Thoughts on the Diamond League season

Thoughts on the Diamond League season

The Diamond League final in Zurich was the last Diamond League of the year and my seventh.  I never go to Asia or Africa – too far for a 2 hour meet.  For health reasons I had to skip Doha this year.  I love the Doha event with media well looked after in that money-no-object environment.  All Diamond Leagues are essentially the same – people running round a track, throwing and jumping – but each Diamond League has its own character and traditions.  Stockholm and London take place in the Olympic Stadium – Stockholm in the quaint 1912 stadium, London the 2012 modern stadium.

There are some lovely traditions. Oslo used to have a strawberry party, sadly discontinued it seems.  I recall the legendary photographer, Mark Shearman, being told off for eating his strawberries too soon.  Tradition demands that you cannot eat until the mayor of Oslo has spoken.  Oslo used to have a snowball-throwing contest – not Diamond event I believe. For people of certain ago who grew up watching Coe, Ovett and Cram running the mile here, being present in the old stadium is always exciting – the more so if Jakob is keeping the tradition going.

When the scheduling is good, everyone takes the train from Oslo to Stockholm.  Lat year I recall standing in a line to buy coffee with Alison dos Santos and having a great conversation.  This year – gratuitous name drop – Usain Bolt sat in my compartment and Sam Kendricks came and sat next to me and explained to me the dynamics of travelling the world with a group of friends, wanting to beat them without wishing them to compete badly.  The Stockholm stadium is a the original 1912 structure – architecturally magnificent but a nightmare for the organizers of a modern meet.

Paris is everyone’s favorite city.  From the rooftop of my hotel I could see the Eifel Tower. The event used to be in the Stade the France (the 2024 Olympic stadium) but the crowd barely half-filled the stadium.  The packed smaller Charlety Stadium creates so much of a better atmosphere. Last year at the press conference athletes were photographed holding a giant baguette – as you do!

I had to skip Rome this year because of a clash of dates but Rome is always fun.  One year the Pope received some believing athletes. Another year a celebrity cooking TV program invited athletes to participate. The (1960) Olympic stadium is a magnificent arena but looks empty with even 20,000 present. In the warm-up area, athletes are watched by a host of statues.

Monaco is a principality of spectacular beauty.  Prince Albert is a regular visitor to the event.  The track is notoriously fast; Natoya Goule once explained to me that the shape of the bends seem to slow athletes less than at other tracks

I know I am biased but 60,000 fans in the London stadium creates a unique atmosphere.

Brussels often hosts the Diamond League final.  The King Baudouin  stadium always has a great atmosphere, especially when a Borlee is running.

Zurich is a magnificent host for a Diamond League final with the stadium packed and going wild if there is a Swiss win or record. Zurich also hosts the best city games on the circuit. While spectators pay for seats, that standing is free, always attracts a big crowd and creates a great atmosphere.

Finally let me pick on highlight from each Diamond League this year.

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Oslo

Seeing Karsten  Warholm run not just in his home country but in the stadium where he trains is always special.  This year it was an intriguing 300m hurdles in which he finished in 32.67, ahead of Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos. World superstar but  also an athlete always ready to chat.

Stockholm

Where better to see Mondo break another world record than in his native Stockholm.  6.28 this time in the iconic 1912 Olympic stadium with a packed stadium going wild.

Paris

A crazy men’s 1500m won by Azeddine Habz  in 3:27.49. The race produced 4 national records and a world age-group record with 13 of the 14 finishers running a PR. I recall George Mills, third in 3:28.36 telling me afterwards that he was shocked how fast he had run.

Monaco

My Monaco highlight is the women’s shot where three ladies threw beyond 20m – as usual outside the TV window. Sarah Mitton led from round two with 20.00. In round five Chase Jackson took the lead with 20.06.  We entered the round of the final three when Jessica Schilder’s 20.39 moved her into the lead.

London

18 year old Kenyan Phanuel Kipkosgei Keoch won the 1500m in 3:28.82, eaving the last two world champions, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman in his wake.

Brussels

She only finished fourth in the 100m but it was privilege to be in the stadium to see Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce run her last ever Diamond League race as she brings down the curtain on an epic career which included 5 Olympics. Watch my interview with her after that final race.

https://x.com/i/status/1958990009513779681

Zurich

The women’s high jump held in front of the Zurich Opera House was won by Nicola Olyslagers with a world leading, national record 2:04. Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Yuliia Levchenko and Morgan Lake all clearing 2 meters as well. Morgan Lake had jumped 1.90 aged 16.  It was to take her another 12 years to get the next 10cm.  I was delighted to be there to see it and talk to her afterwards.