Christian Taylor of the USA celebrates his first place during the men's triple jump final (© Getty Images)
High powered rivalries in the men’s Triple Jump and Shot Put will be in full gear at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo on 7 June, the fifth stop on the Samsung Diamond League circuit.
Idowu v Taylor
In the Triple Jump, the rivalry between British veteran Phillips Idowu and rising young American star Christian Taylor commenced in London late last season and extended to the World Championships in Daegu.
Idowu has been a perennial in the higher echelons of the event since the start of the century when he first achieved a 17-metre jump. Indeed in that time frame he has attained medals at all of the major championships - World, World Indoor, European, European Indoor and the Commonwealth Games. The only title that has eluded him is the Olympic Games gold medal. A three-time Olympic finalist, a victory in London later this year would be the perfect culmination to an already extremely successful career.
In 2011 Idowu was favoured to defend his World title in Korea, however Taylor, a young collegiate athlete had different ideas. Taylor not only beat Idowu in the Samsung Diamond League meeting in London, but repeated that feat in Daegu, winning a competition of the highest possible standard by some 19 centimetres. Taylor’s jump of 17.96m was the biggest jump since the days of Jonathon Edwards and he has shown his true competitive edge on the biggest stage possible.
In their only meeting in 2012, Idowu prevailed in the rain swept conditions in Shanghai where his cool head and experience in the atrocious conditions again proved that the tall Londoner can never be written off.
In Oslo both Taylor and Idowu will have some additional competitors to contend with. A young contender has emerged in an Olympic year and has evoked memories of his nation’s former glory in this discipline. In Russia Luc Adams, the World indoor bronze medallist, revived memories of the great Saneyev in achieving 17.53m, the farthest jump in the world for 2012.
Taylor and Idowu will continue their rivalry towards London but will be mindful of the potential of the other youngsters like Silva and Adams who will firstly challenge them in Oslo.
Shot Put – When continents collide
The men’s Shot Put at this year’s Bislett Games is shaping into an intriguing contest on many levels. Not only will it be a competition involving the biggest and the best throwers on the planet featuring Europe’s finest against the cream of America’s Shot Put talent but it will also be a struggle between the techniques favoured by the leading throwers from both continents.
The Shot Put at the Samsung Diamond League has become a fiercely contested event and spectators all over the world have truly enjoyed the rivalry that exists between the sport’s biggest men.
The Europeans will be led by Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski, who boasts a personal best of 21.95m, and Germany’s World champion David Storl who has hurled the implement 21.78m. Both are very tall athletes - Majewski stands an imposing 2.04m whilst the 21-year old-Storl is 1.99m! And both favour the more traditional "glide" technique.
The Americas challenge will be headed by Canada’s Dylan Armstrong and Reese Hoffa of the U.S. Both have extraordinary personal bests over 22 metres: Armstrong 22.21m and Hoffa 22.43m. Hoffa has been a gold medallist at World Championships (both indoor & outdoor) and both he and Armstrong use the more recently developed "rotational" technique, a skill that had been initiated in the States and is the hallmark of the current shot putters from that continent. Hoffa is in a rich vein of form winning at the Diamond League stop in Shanghai and having ownership of the leading performance in the world this season at 21.73m.
The Shot Put has a rich history in the Bislett stadium & on two occasions the World record has been established on its infield. In 1934, Jack Torrance and in 1949 it was the turn of Jim Fuchs. Both were from the USA, so history and tradition are on side of Hoffa. However all the competitors will feel the excitement generated by the Bislett crowd and performances in excess of 22 metres are certainly a possibility.
Organisers for the IAAF
Idowu v Taylor
In the Triple Jump, the rivalry between British veteran Phillips Idowu and rising young American star Christian Taylor commenced in London late last season and extended to the World Championships in Daegu.
Idowu has been a perennial in the higher echelons of the event since the start of the century when he first achieved a 17-metre jump. Indeed in that time frame he has attained medals at all of the major championships - World, World Indoor, European, European Indoor and the Commonwealth Games. The only title that has eluded him is the Olympic Games gold medal. A three-time Olympic finalist, a victory in London later this year would be the perfect culmination to an already extremely successful career.
In 2011 Idowu was favoured to defend his World title in Korea, however Taylor, a young collegiate athlete had different ideas. Taylor not only beat Idowu in the Samsung Diamond League meeting in London, but repeated that feat in Daegu, winning a competition of the highest possible standard by some 19 centimetres. Taylor’s jump of 17.96m was the biggest jump since the days of Jonathon Edwards and he has shown his true competitive edge on the biggest stage possible.
In their only meeting in 2012, Idowu prevailed in the rain swept conditions in Shanghai where his cool head and experience in the atrocious conditions again proved that the tall Londoner can never be written off.
In Oslo both Taylor and Idowu will have some additional competitors to contend with. A young contender has emerged in an Olympic year and has evoked memories of his nation’s former glory in this discipline. In Russia Luc Adams, the World indoor bronze medallist, revived memories of the great Saneyev in achieving 17.53m, the farthest jump in the world for 2012.
Taylor and Idowu will continue their rivalry towards London but will be mindful of the potential of the other youngsters like Silva and Adams who will firstly challenge them in Oslo.
Shot Put – When continents collide
The men’s Shot Put at this year’s Bislett Games is shaping into an intriguing contest on many levels. Not only will it be a competition involving the biggest and the best throwers on the planet featuring Europe’s finest against the cream of America’s Shot Put talent but it will also be a struggle between the techniques favoured by the leading throwers from both continents.
The Shot Put at the Samsung Diamond League has become a fiercely contested event and spectators all over the world have truly enjoyed the rivalry that exists between the sport’s biggest men.
The Europeans will be led by Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski, who boasts a personal best of 21.95m, and Germany’s World champion David Storl who has hurled the implement 21.78m. Both are very tall athletes - Majewski stands an imposing 2.04m whilst the 21-year old-Storl is 1.99m! And both favour the more traditional "glide" technique.
The Americas challenge will be headed by Canada’s Dylan Armstrong and Reese Hoffa of the U.S. Both have extraordinary personal bests over 22 metres: Armstrong 22.21m and Hoffa 22.43m. Hoffa has been a gold medallist at World Championships (both indoor & outdoor) and both he and Armstrong use the more recently developed "rotational" technique, a skill that had been initiated in the States and is the hallmark of the current shot putters from that continent. Hoffa is in a rich vein of form winning at the Diamond League stop in Shanghai and having ownership of the leading performance in the world this season at 21.73m.
The Shot Put has a rich history in the Bislett stadium & on two occasions the World record has been established on its infield. In 1934, Jack Torrance and in 1949 it was the turn of Jim Fuchs. Both were from the USA, so history and tradition are on side of Hoffa. However all the competitors will feel the excitement generated by the Bislett crowd and performances in excess of 22 metres are certainly a possibility.
Organisers for the IAAF
