Olympic high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) will compete at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the second meeting of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League series, at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

The former world indoor and European Championships gold medallist – the Italian national record holder with a best of 2.39m – was enjoying his best year ever when he suffered an horrific injury ahead of the Rio Games in 2016. His journey back to fitness was gradual and challenging, but he returned to medal-winning form with a European indoor title in Glasgow in 2019.

In a high-quality competition in Tokyo where three athletes cleared 2.37m for the first time in history, the 29-year-old went on to share one of the greatest sporting moments of all time when he topped the podium alongside his friend and fellow competitor Mutaz Barshim (QAT).

“2021 was the year of my life so far, but I have new goals with the World and European Championships ahead this summer,” said the 2021 Wanda Diamond League champion. “I finished eighth at the World Championships in Doha in 2019 and I’m so motivated by Eugene. The hard work has already started and I’m looking forward to getting back on the circuit and to competing in Birmingham. I won the European indoor title the last time I competed in the UK (Glasgow) and the crowd support was unbelievable. After two years of almost silence due to the pandemic, to know that there will again be an electric atmosphere gives me a huge buzz and I can’t wait to get out there and jump.”

The Muller Birmingham Diamond League featuring the best athletes from around the world takes place at the Alexander Stadium on 21 May. Sign up to receive exclusive access to priority tickets from Wednesday 16th March.