News25 Mar 2014


Renaud Lavillenie to compete in Oslo – IAAF Diamond League

FacebookTwitterEmail

Renaud Lavillenie clearing a world record of 6.16m at the 2014 Pole Vault Stars meeting in Donetsk (© Valeriy Bilokryl / Jean-Pierre Durand)

Newly-minted world pole vault record-holder Renaud Lavillenie will compete at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Wednesday 11 June, organisers announced on Tuesday (25).

The Frenchman claimed his place among the all-time great track and field athletes when he cleared 6.16m on 15 February this year, beating the long-standing record of the pole vault legend Sergey Bubka.

Not only did Lavillenie exceed Bubka’s records, both indoors and in absolute terms, he even did it in the Ukrainian’s hometown of Donetsk, with Bubka watching in the stands.

Germany’s world champion Raphael Holdzeppe will also participate in Oslo, which means it will be a tough competition for Lavillenie, who won the Olympic and European titles in 2012.

Lavillenie, now 27, has participated at the Bislett Games twice before, in 2010 and 2012, winning the event on both occasions.

However, the stadium record at Bislett is actually held by Tim Lobinger, of Germany, with an impressive 6.00m dating from 1999.

Nevertheless, in his winter form before a minor heel injury brought an end to his indoor season, Lavillenie is certainly capable of breaking this record as well.

The Frenchman has claimed the Diamond Race in the pole vault for all four years since the IAAF Diamond League’s launch in 2010. He has won his event at no less than 18 of the 28 Diamond League meetings where the pole vault has been contested in that time.

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

Pages related to this article
AthletesDisciplinesCompetitions
Loading...