Curious times call for creative measures, and as the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill in 2020, the Wanda Diamond League was forced to adapt. Yet despite all the difficulties posed by the crisis, the series still managed to deliver eight rip-roaring athletics events over the second half of the summer. <\/p>\n
From June to September, the WDL and local organising committees were able to stage four exhibition events and four fully competitive meetings, with some of the world’s best athletes delivering world class performances at venues across Europe, the United States and Asia. <\/p>\n
In part one of our season review, we look back at the first four events of 2020. From the impossible via the inspirational to the downright historic, here are the highlights from an unforgettable year of Wanda Diamond League action. <\/p>\n
After months of uncertainty, the athletics season finally got underway in June with Oslo’s plan to stage “The Impossible Games”, a socially-distanced track and field event held in full observation of Norway’s coronavirus regulations. The audacious exhibition event proved not only to be entirely possible, but also a roaring success. <\/p>\n
Home hero Karsten Warholm stole the show with a record-breaking solo run in the 300m hurdles, the Norwegian clocking a world best of 33.78. Records also fell in an innovative 2000m team event which pitted Norway’s Ingebrigtsen brothers against a team of Kenyans starring 1500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot.<\/p>\n
In another long-distance battle, Mondo Duplantis bettered Renaud Lavillenie via video link in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.86m to claim his first win in what would prove to be an historic outdoor season for the Swedish-American. <\/p>\n
Read the full report from the Oslo Impossible Games<\/a> or click here to watch all the highlights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n