World heptathlon champions Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) and Nafi Thiam (BEL) have been added to the women’s long jump field for the London Athletics Meet on Sunday 23 July.
Two of the all-time greats in the combined events will add further star power to the long jump competition as they join European Indoor champion Jazmin Sawyers at the London Stadium later this month.
Johnson-Thompson – who has a PB of 6.93m – has been in excellent form so far this season. In May she finished second in the seven-event discipline at the prestigious Hypomeeting Gotzis.
The 2019 world champion has been a two-time winner at Wanda Diamond League events in the past with both victories coming in the long jump at the London Stadium in 2013 and 2016.
As for Thiam, the last time she competed at the London Stadium she won her first world heptathlon title. At the World Athletics Championships London 2017, Thiam followed Olympic gold in Rio with her first of two world outdoor titles to date.
The multi global medallist also broke the pentathlon world record at the European Indoor Championships earlier this year with 1254 points. With a long jump personal best of 6.86m, Belgium’s two-time world champion will be a strong contender in the field on Sunday 23 July.
On competing at the London Stadium, Johnson-Thompson said, “I am really excited to be competing in the long jump at the London Athletics Meet. It is one of my favourite events in the calendar, and it is always great to compete in front of the British crowd. The support is always the best in the world and with 45,000 people cheering us on in the stadium, the atmosphere will be incredible for all the athletes.”
Thiam, added, “I am looking forward to competing in the long jump in the London Stadium. It has been a few years since I have competed in London, but I have great memories from the World Championships. The meeting will be important in my preparations for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, so it will be great to compete as part of a strong field.”
The Wanda Diamond League is the premier one-day meeting series in athletics. It 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.
