Athletics' big names to grace Doha Diamond League

Big names in athletics like Neeraj Chopra, Andre De Grasse, Shericka Jackson and Faith Kipyegon are among the stars set to descend on Doha for the Wanda Diamond League season opener on May 5th.

The 2023 Wanda Diamond League will kick off in style this Friday 5th May at the Seashore Group Doha Meeting in Qatar. 

15 reigning individual Olympic and world champions - including Qatar’s Olympic and world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim - plus a host of major championship medallists, will compete at the Qatar Sports Club where five world leading performances, two meeting records, and three area and national records were set 12 months ago.  

Across a high-quality programme, event highlights are expected to include the women’s 100m, 1500m and pole vault, and the men’s 200m, 3000m and javelin.

Reigning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson (JAM) will open her Wanda Diamond League campaign over 100m in Doha, in an exciting line-up that includes former world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR).

Two-time Olympic and world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon (KEN), meanwhile, headlines the women’s 1500m as she looks to defend her 2022 Wanda Diamond League title. 

In an incredible women's pole vault field that reunites the podium trio from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Olympic and world champion Katie Moon (USA) will take on Sandi Morris (USA) and Diamond Tropy holder Nina Kennedy (AUS).

The men's 200m will see a clash of the titans, as Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse (CAN) goes up against world 400m champion Michael Norman (USA), world 100m champion and Olympic silver medallist Fred Kerley (USA), and Olympic and world 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek (USA).

Reigning Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) will headline an impressive men’s 3000m, while Indian superstar and reigning Diamond League champion Neeraj Chopra leads the field in the men's javelin. 

Mohammed Al Fadala, Qatar Athletics Federation president, said: “We are proud to host the opening meeting of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League and I believe that this year we have put together the highest quality fields we’ve ever seen in Doha.

The Wanda Diamond League meeting in Doha is the first leg of athletics' premier one-day series, which comprises 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.