First Paris, then Silesia? That is the plan for this summer for Mutaz Essa Barshim, Gianmarco Tamberi, Grant Holloway and the top shot putters, icnluding Ryan Crouser! The Polish Diamond League meeting takes place on 25 August. Tickets are still available to the event that could bring another world record. One month remains until the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial.
An Olympic medal? That is the number one goal for every athlete in 2024, But for an increasing number of top athletes what comes after Paris is just as important and that is an appearance at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in the Silesian Stadium. The organizers have confirmed that on 25 August the only Diamond League event in this part of Europe will feature a showdown between the two high jump kings from Tokyo – Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi. Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and the in-form Leonardo Fabbri will try to push the limits in the shot put yet again. Grant Holloway will attempt to challenge the world reord over the high hurdles.
– They are at a level at which all they will think about in Paris in a few days is gold. But not everyone will succeed. At the „Kama” we offer ideal conditions to take a quick revenge – said Piotr Małachowski, the meeting's sports director.
Three years ago they shared gold. Barshim is saying goodbye
Barshim and Tamberi, both of whom will return to Silesia, achieved sporting immortality at the last Olympic Games. The duet was born to fly. In 2021 they ended the Olympic final with the same height achieved and an identical number of misses. A tie. The Qatari's question to the judge on whether they can both take gold has made history. They did.
– We promise it was an exceptional situation, We will remain rivals in the future – Tamberi stated on that occasion.
Although Tamberi, in addition to the Olympic gold, has won world and European titles, he has also faced adversity in his career. He could have started his Olympic harvest five years earlier in Rio. He had achieved a mark of 2.39, which could have given him gold. However, an injury put a stop to his chances. It was then and on the occasion of his subsequent injury that the friendship between the two jumpers started. It was Barshim who spoke to Tamberi first, saying he would make up for it one day. And so he did, with a vengeance. He last surprised the world in June this year. In front of his home crowd in Rome he put on a great show to take gold at the European Championships. After one of the jumps by the 32-year old, the audience froze. Tamberi cleared 2.34, then fell and grabbed his ankle. A moment later he took off his shoe and took a spring out of it in front of a camera.
„The greatest showman in athletics” - was the name given to the half-bearded jumper by European Athletics. A few minutes later, with 40 thousand spectators watching in silence, he cleared 2.37.
The result gives him every right to think of a medal in Paris. Barshim, though, has jumped much higher in his career, with a best of 2,43, Although he was unsuccessful in his attacks at the world record, he has three Olympic medals to his name. In total, indoors and out, he has won four world titles and an incredible total of 10 global medals. This season, going to into his last Olympics, as he recently announced, he has competed very sparingly. He has been seen just four times. His season's best is 2.31.
– He avoids overcompeting. But convincing him to compete in Poland was not a major problem – Małachowski stated with a smile
Both feel great in Poland and last year Barshim cleared 2.36 in the Silesian Stadium to set a meeting record.
– It meant a lot to him, as Mutaz has a special relationship with our country – said Marek Plawgo.
The man who took him to all that success is a Pole. In September 2009 „Stanley” - as Stanisław Szczyrba likes to be called – was invited to the Middle East for the first time. He saw Barshim playing basketball and flying over the hoop. He became his coach. Later on he organized training camps in Poland and his charge fell in love with the Tatra Mountains. Since then they have achieved everything, except the world record.
It is clear Mutaz still has something to prove.
– As long as I keep on jumping, I want to make history. When I retire, I want to look back and say with clear conscience: I did everything I could. I want others to look at my achievements and say I was one of the best in my event – he stated.
World record attempts? Two stars are ready for it
Apart from the high jumpers, other major names have announced their presence at the „Kama” on 25 August. One especially exciting event will be the showdown between the hottest names in the shot put. Entering the circle in the Silesian Stadium will be Leonardo Fabbri, Joe Kovacs and Ryan Crouser. While the Italian came within a few centimetres of the 23-metre barrier this year, the two Americans have surpassed it. Crouser's 23.54 is the current world record. A record he himself stated is still due for improvement.
Grant Holloway, the greatest name in today's global high hurdling, also knows how it feels to set a world record, at least indoors. In winter he ran the 60 metres hurdles in 7.27, but outdoors he is yet to break the record set by his countryman Aries Merritt. Although he has been unbeaten in world championships since 2019, his older colleague's mark of 12.80 is 0.01 faster than his.
– I have good news. The track in the Silesian Stadium is very, very fast. I know something about that – said Ewa Swoboda with a wink.
Swoboda, Natalia Kaczmarek, Piotr Lisek, Maria Andrejczyk, Polish hammer throwers including Wojciech Nowicki and Paweł Fajdek, as well as other home stars are also looking forward to returning to the „Kama”. In addition, one of Holloway's rivals will be Jakub Szymański, who equalled the national record this season. The participation of Armand Duplantis, Femke Bol and Jakob Ingebrigtsen was confirmed some time ago. All three recently set European records. The pole vaulter's mark of 6.24 is also a world record. The list of stars will certainly grow.
The event's partners are the Silesian Voivodeship and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism.
Tickets to the Diamond League on 26 August are available for purchase on the eBilet.pl platform. More names of stars participating in the meeting will be decided by the Olympic results.
– We have just one goal. We invite the best – Małachowski promised.
