Ryan Whiting in action at the 2014 US Indoor Championships (© Kirby Lee)
Ryan Whiting and Christian Cantwell, who between them have won five of the past six world indoor shot put titles, will compete in Karlsruhe at the IAAF Indoor Permit meeting on 31 January.
Two-time world champion David Storl would have also been in the field, but was forced to withdraw as he has not yet fully recovered from recent surgery. The German will still be in attendance to sign autographs for fans, while the two US athletes more than make up for his absence from the competition.
Cantwell has four global titles to his name. As well as being a three-time world indoor champion, he won the 2009 world title in Berlin, so has fond memories of competing in Germany. He has competed in Karlsruhe once before, finishing third in 2012, and will want to improve on that.
Whiting, winner of the past two world indoor titles, finished second in Karlsruhe last year. Three weeks later, he threw 22.23m, which was the best mark indoors or outdoors in 2014.
Also in the field is European indoor champion Asmir Kolasinac. The Serb finished fifth in Karlsruhe in 2014 and 2012.
Organisers for the IAAF
