5th June 2018

Olympic and world champions headline women’s 200m additions

  • Olympic and world champion confirmed for women’s 200m
  • 60m indoor champion also on start-list
  • Five new additions hold over 20 major medals between them

Olympic champion Elaine Thompson and world champion Dafne Schippers headline what promises to be a thrilling women’s 200m at this summer’s Müller Anniversary Games as five more athletes are added to the start list.

Schippers will return to the London Stadium 11 months after successfully defending her 200m world title at last year’s IAAF World Championships. The Dutch heptathlete-turned-sprinter held off Marie-Josee Ta Lou last summer to become only the third female athlete to successfully defend a world title in the event.

Ta Lou will be aiming to go one place better when she returns to London to compete across the same distance. The Ivorian athlete has already recorded success on British soil this summer, storming to victory in the 150m at last month’s Manchester City Games.

Not only will the top two athletes from last year’s World Championships go head-to-head, but the gold and silver medallists from the 60m at this year’s IAAF World Indoor Championships will also meet again in London.

Ta Lou claimed silver behind her compatriot Murielle Ahoure in Birmingham, and Ahoure will return to the UK aiming for outdoor success, as will double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, who is also confirmed to be in attendance in London.

While there was disappointment the last time the Jamaican took to the track in London, finishing fifth in the 100m at last year’s World Championships. But, just a few weeks earlier, Thompson did take victory at last year’s edition of the Muller Anniversary Games, a win which caught the eye more than usual due to the fact Thompson was racing in flats.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor will be another one-to-watch after breaking the African 200m record in March with 22.04, the multi-talented 29-year-old then going on to play a part in Nigeria securing 4x100m bronze at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Previously confirmed…

Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith has already confirmed her participation in the event, with the 22-year-old leading the home hopes back at the stadium where she broke the British 100m record as well as claiming world 4x100m silver last summer.

More athletes will be confirmed over the coming weeks, so keep checking an eye on www.london.diamondleague.com as well as the British Athletics and Müller Anniversary Games twitter accounts for more announcements.

Tickets for the Müller Anniversary Games are available here: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/muller-anniversary-games-2018/.