WRITTEN FOR THE STOCKHOLM IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE
Ahead of Stockholm’s IAAF Diamond League spectacular on Thursday (May 30th), we take a look back on the rich history of athletic excellence achieved in the Swedish capitals’ stadium, by reviewing some of the finest stadium records recorded in the grand arena over the past half a century.
The scene of the 1912 Olympic Games, the impressive ‘castle stadium’ has witnessed an incredible 83 world records – the most by any other athletics venue in the world by far and now, as it prepares to stage the tenth edition of the annual IAAF Diamond League, we highlight a cluster of top performances from the most famous faces to grace its’ track and in-field.
MEN –
200m – Michael Johnson – USA, 19.77 in July, 1996.
The eight-time world sprint champion sped to victory on the eve of his first of three Olympic titles. Johnson achieved the 200m-400m double in the Atlanta, 1996 Games shortly after his Stockholm appearance.
400m – Jeremy Wariner – USA, 43.50 in August, 2007.
The 2004 Olympic champion top the top honours ahead of taking his second global one-lap victory in Osaka.
800m – Wilson Kipketer – DEN, 1:41.73 in July, 1997.
This world record attempt impressed the world shortly before Kipketer went onto claim his second of three world titles in Athens.
1500m – Hicham El Guerrouj – MAR, 3:29.30 in July, 1997.
This metric mile achievement preceded El Guerrouj’s first of four world crowns in Athens the following month.
3,000m – Kenenisa Bekele – ETH, 7:25.79 in August, 2007.
The three-time Olympic champion recorded this fine victory shortly ahead of capturing the world 10,000m crown in Athens – his 13th of a remarkable 17 global victories.
110m hurdles – Dayron Robles – CUB, 12.91 in July, 2008.
Robles’ speedy run over the barriers was a fine dress rehearsal before his Olympic win in the Athens Games.
400m hurdles – Abderrahman Samba – QAT, 47.41 in June, 2018.
This superb one-lap hurdles performance provided confirmation of Samba’s break-out season, and he is now the favourite for world glory in Doha this summer.
High jump – Patrik Sjoberg – SWE, 2.42m in June, 1987.
The only Swedish athlete on the Stockholm stadium record list, Sjoberg’s mammoth leap was a world record at the time and it arrived following his second of four world indoor titles and just before his World Championship victory in Rome.
Long jump – Ivan Pedroso – CUB, 8.59m in July, 1997.
Later to be crowned the 2000 Olympic champion, Pedroso’s outstanding jump arrived in the wake of his third of five world indoor crowns, and before his second of four world titles – in Athens the following month.
Discus – Fredrick Dacres – JAM, 69.67m in June, 2018.
This throw was enough to rank Dacres as second on the global ranking last year.
Javelin – Andreas Thorkildsen – NOR, 89.78m in July, 2006.
The two-time Olympic champion launched the spear here before taking the first of two European wins.
WOMEN –
100m – Irina Privalova – RUS, 10.90 in July, 1994.
A global gold medalist from 60m indoors in 1991 to Olympic glory over 400m hurdles in Sydney, 2000 – and with 200m and 400m success in between – this blistering time has survived many attacks from a host of big-name stars over the past two decades.
200m and 400m – Allyson Felix – USA, 21.88 in July, 2009 and 49.70 in August, 2007.
The six-time Olympic champion and eleven-time world sprint champion’s two scorching stadium records each preceded a global victory – in Osaka and Berlin, respectively.
800m and 1,000m – Maria de Lurdes Mutola – MOZ, 1:56.71 in August, 1998 and 2:30.72 in July, 1995.
The latter stadium record arrived after her second of seven world indoor titles for the 2000 Olympic champion and three-time world outdoor champion.
3,000m and 5,000m – Meseret Defar – ETH, 8:24.66 in July, 2006 and 14.12.88 in July, 2008.
The two-time Olympic champion and two-time world outdoor champion’s shorter stadium record followed her second of four world indoor crowns, whilst her longer stadium record came ahead of a silver medal performance in the Beijing Olympics.
100m hurdles – Brianna McNeal – USA, 12.38 in June, 2018.
The 2016 Olympic champion and 2013 world champion’s mark placed her in the second spot on the 2018 world rankings.
400m hurdles – Zuzana Hejnova – CZE, 53.70 in August, 2013.
This achievement prepared the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist to take her first of two world titles in Moscow the following month.
High jump – Blanka Vlasic – CRO, 2.07m in August, 2007.
The two-time world indoor champion warmed up for her first of two world outdoor victories – in Osaka – with this fine clearance.
Pole Vault – Sandi Morris – USA, 4.86m in June, 2018.
The 2016 Olympic champion and 2017 world outdoor silver medalist cleared this height three months after claiming her debut world indoor title.
Shot put – Valerie Adams – NZL, 20.30m in July, 2013.
The two-time Olympic champion and four-time world indoor champion launched the put to this impressive distance before claiming her four world outdoor crown in Moscow.
Discus throw – Sandra Perkovic – CRO, 68.77 in August, 2012.
The two-time world champion registered this mark shortly before her London Olympic gold medal-winning display.
Unquestionably, Stockholm appears to be the place to use as a springboard to success at the annual pinnacle of the season, so the big question remains…who will cement their place on the stadium’s roll of honour this week en route to September’s IAAF World Championships in Doha?
