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The Monaco Diamond League is slated to take place on July 12 and it promises a big display. Headlining the field ahead of the Paris Olympics are multiple World and Olympic champions, guaranteeing fans the ultimate showdown before the Games.
This will mark the penultimate Diamond League meeting of the year before Paris, and many athletes will look at it as an opportunity to fine tune their preparations before the marquee event. With that, here's a look at the top athletes to watch out for at the Monaco Diamond League.
#7. Gianmarco Tamberi, High Jump
Gianmarco Tamberi has been in impeccable form so far in 2024, registering a season best of 2.37m that's only 0.02m off his personal best. The Italian heads into this competition as the reigning World, Olympic, and European Champion, with practically no competition. While fans might not get a tussle on the scoreboard, they can expect to be delighted by Tamberi's trademark antics off the field.
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#6. Katie Moon, Pole Vault
Katie Moon will enter the Monaco Diamond League with a long resume, including the title of defending Olympic champion, two-time World Championships gold-medalist, and the 2024 Diamond League winner.
Her outing at the Stade Louis II will also see her clash with Australian rival Nina Kennedy, giving fans a glimpse of what the title fight at Paris could look like.
#5. Dina Asher-Smith, 100m sprint
The women's 100m sprint will see back in form Dina Asher-Smith take to the track at the Monaco Diamond League after winning the European Championships, her first major win since 2019. The race will see a face-off between Asher-Smith, two-time World Championships silver-medalist Marie Jose Ta Lou-Smith, and World Champion in the relay, Tamari Davis.
Giving the three a run for their money will be youngster Julien Alfred, whose season best of 10.78 makes her the group's fastest runner this year
#4. Karsten Warholm, 400m Hurdles
Headlining the men's 400m hurdles at the Monaco Diamond League will be defending World and Olympic champion, as well as the world record holder in the event, Karsten Warholm. The Norwegian has only dipped as low as 46.70 seconds this year, and there are two on the field who have been faster than him in 2024.
America's Raj Benjamin will enter the race with a season best of 46.46, while Alison Dos Santos comes into Monaco having stopped the clock earlier this year as 46.63. As the three face-off, Warholm remains a favorite for the win, but he will certainly have to work or it.
#3. Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 1500m
Warholm's compatriot, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, is another to keep an eye out for at the Monaco Diamond League. The 23-year-old will be running the 1,500m race, where he is the current Olympic and European Champion, as well as the world indoor record holder.
Outside of Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot, Ingebrigtsen is the only man from the 11-person field to have dipped below 3:30 seconds this year, and his personal best of 3:27.14 will make him the fastest runner on track.
#2. Grant Holloway, 110m hurdles
Elsewhere, Grant Holloway will be spearheading the challenge in the 110m hurdles. For fans of track and field, this will be a particularly intriguing race as Holloway is joined by Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, who beat the American to gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Holloway had very much been the undisputed favorite for the win in that race, before Parchment usurped him in the finals.
Now as the Olympics approach once again, it remains to be seen which of the two gets the upper hand in this clash at the Monaco Diamond League, with Holloway's personal best of the season being far better than that of the Jamaican.
#1. Noah Lyles, 200m sprint
One of the biggest stars at the Stade Louis II will be America's reigning World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Noah Lyles, as he races the 200m. This marks the sprinter’s Diamond League debut of the season, and in a six man field, his only competition will be compatriot Courtney Lindsey and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo.
The last time the 26-year-old ran at the Monaco Diamond League was in 2022, when he clocked a 19.46 to finish first while setting a meet record.
