Mutaz Essa Barshim at the 2014 IAAF Diamond League in New York (© Victah Sailer)
World indoor high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim and Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams are the latest athletes to sign up to the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme in Brussels on 5 September, the second of two IAAF Diamond League finals.
Barshim has been in outstanding form this season, jumping an Asian record of 2.41m to win at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome, and then improving on that mark with 2.42m to finish second on count-back in New York in one of the greatest high jump competitions in recent memory.
In the Belgian capital he will be up against Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov and world champion Bohdan Bondarenko, both of whom have also jumped higher than 2.40m this year. Their participation in Brussels was announced last month.
Shot put star Adams is another addition to the Memorial Van Damme. Having extended her winning streak past the 50-meeting mark, the New Zealander’s next aim is defending her Diamond Race title. In Brussels she may also have the meeting record of 20.57m in her sights.
Local talent Philip Milanov has also been added to the line-up. Having set two Belgian discus records already this year, the 22-year-old will be looking to challenge the world’s best in front of a home crowd in Brussels.
Barshim, Adams and Milanov will all be making their Memorial Van Damme debuts.
Organisers for the IAAF
2014 IAAF Diamond League calendar
Doha, QAT – 9 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
Eugene, USA – 31 May
Rome, ITA – 5 Jun
Oslo, NOR – 11 Jun
New York, USA – 14 Jun
Lausanne, SUI – 3 Jul
Paris, FRA – 5 Jul
Glasgow, GBR – 11-12 Jul
Monaco, MON – 18 Jul
Stockholm, SWE – 21 Aug
Birmingham, GBR – 24 Aug
Zurich, SUI – 28 Aug
Brussels, BEL – 5 Sep
