English
French
The Wanda Diamond League arrives in Europe for the first time this season on Friday, bringing the world’s top athletes to Rome. Here are five things to watch at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala.
Tamberi at Home
The Stadio Olimpico always offers one of the best atmospheres, and never more so than when Gianmarco Tamberi is competing.
After winning his third Diamond Trophy in Brussels last September, the 2021 Olympic champion begins 2025 hoping to defend both his world and Diamond League titles. He also has unfinished business at the Golden Gala, having never won his home Diamond League meeting in six attempts so far. Win or lose, the Italian will have an entire stand of fans behind him as he takes on opponents such as Hamish Kerr and Sanghyeok Woo this Friday.
First Rome win for Fabbri?
Another reigning Diamond League champion hoping to benefit from home advantage in Rome is Leonardo Fabbri. The Italian shot put star claimed his first Diamond League title in Brussels with a personal best of 22.98m last year, and now has his sights set on the elusive 23-meter barrier.
After finishing eighth in his season debut in Rabat last month, Fabbri is looking to bounce back when he takes on Payton Otterdahl, Joe Kovacs, Tom Walsh, and Rajindra Campbell this weekend. Like Tamberi, he is chasing a first win in Rome. While he triumphed at the Golden Gala in his hometown of Florence in 2023, Fabbri has yet to claim a Diamond League victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Chebet Chasing Records
Can anyone stop Beatrice Chebet? Last season, it seemed the Kenyan distance star was on another level, as she won two Olympic medals, broke the 10,000m world record, and claimed the Diamond League 5000m title.
This season is no different. Chebet won the 3000m at the season opener in Xiamen before clocking 8:11.56 in Rabat, the second-fastest time in history and an African and Diamond League record. In Rome, she’ll face her Ethiopian rival Gudaf Tsegay, who set the current 5000m world record of 14:00.12 at the Diamond League Final in Eugene two years ago.
Three in a Row for Tinch?
America’s new 110m hurdles star Cordell Tinch is on fire in 2025, quickly establishing himself as the man to beat in one of track and field’s most competitive events. Having previously been in the shadow of his more decorated compatriots like Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts, Tinch has made this season his own with a spectacular start to his Diamond League campaign.
After winning in Xiamen, the American ran a personal best of 12.87 in Keqiao to become the fourth-fastest man in history. He’ll be aiming for a third straight victory in Rome, where he will face Roberts, Omar McLeod, Enrique Llopis, and Lorenzo Simonelli.
Lift-off for Pérez-Hernández
With world record holder and Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas sidelined by injury, Cuba’s Leyanis Pérez Hernández has stepped up as the new leading figure in women’s triple jump. The Cuban star notched four wins on her way to a first Diamond League title in 2024, with a second-place finish in Silesia being the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season.
The 23-year-old returns to action in Rome, making her first appearance in defense of her title and hoping to solidify her status as world number one and natural heir to Rojas.