The high quality line-up of Olympic and world medallists was confirmed in mid-June for the capital clash. Since then, Čeh – the Slovenian national record holder with a best of 71.86m from 16 June, the joint fourth furthest throw in history - has continued his unbeaten run in the 2023 Wanda Diamond League with victory in Stockholm to add to wins in Doha and Rabat. The 2022 Wanda Diamond League champion also topped the podium at the European Team Championships (Second Division) in Poland, and most recently at the Slovenian Championships.
In fact, Čeh’s only defeat in 2023 has been to Ståhl – who coincidentally holds the Swedish national record with a best of 71.86m to match his rival - who took the win at the Paavo Nurmi Games in mid-June.
Ståhl, the 2019 world champion and 2021 Wanda Diamond League champion, was runner-up at the 2017 World Championships in London. In June he won the European Team Championships (First Division) in Poland and backed that up with victory in the Swedish Championships. His season’s best is 71.45m.
Joining the highly decorated duo in London are Simon Petterson (SWE), Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo; Andrius Gudzuis (LTU), 2017 world champion in London and bronze medallist in Eugene 2022; Lawrence Okoye (GBR), the newly-crowned British champion and national record holder who won Commonwealth silver and European bronze last summer; Matthew Denny (AUS), the reigning Commonwealth champion; and Sam Mattis (USA), the 2023 US national champion and Olympic finalist in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, Mykolas Alekna (LTU), the European champion and world silver medallist, has withdrawn. He has been replaced by Alex Rose (SAM), the 2022 world and Commonwealth finalist who is ranked sixth for the year to date with a lifetime best and area record of 70.39m from April this year.
Tickets for the London Athletics Meet are on sale now with the majority of those remaining priced at £23 per adult and £5 per child.
