ISTAF 2024: Olympic Stars and World Champions to Shine at Berlin's Premier Athletics Meet

BERLIN. Get ready for the ISTAF 2024 in Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Sunday, September 1, featuring an impressive lineup of athletic superstars. The event will showcase five Olympic champions and a total of 13 medalists from the recent Paris Games, alongside a host of other crowd favorites. This major German athletics event is set to draw in over 35,000 spectators and promises a day filled with emotional highs, memorable farewells, and thrilling debuts. Fans worldwide can catch the action as it will be televised in more than 100 countries. Tickets are available at www.tickets.istaf.de.

The ISTAF will host a spectrum of star athletes, including Olympic gold medalists and notable names from the Paris Olympics. Highlights include Leo Neugebauer, the decathlon silver medalist, and Niklas Kaul, the former world champion, who will both compete in the newly introduced ISTAF triathlon. Track and field enthusiasts will also see performances from Olympic champions like Yemisi Ogunleye in shot put and Grant Holloway from the USA in the 110 meter hurdles. The event also features Sam Kendricks (USA), a silver medalist in pole vault, and the German trio of Gina Lückenkemper, Lisa Mayer, and Rebekka Haase, who clinched a bronze in the 4x100 meters relay.

Additionally, the men’s 100 meters will spotlight Canadian Olympic relay champions Aaron Brown and Jerome Blake, alongside South Africa’s sprint star Akani Simbine. The 400 meters will include Dutch sensation Isaya Klein Ikkink and Britain's Alex Haydock-Wilson, both of whom secured Olympic medals in Paris. Lisanne de Witte from the Netherlands, a silver medalist and European champion, is expected to excel in the women's 400 meters. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who won Olympic bronze in the 800 meters and World Championship gold in 2023, is the top contender in the 600 meters race.

The ISTAF will also feature Malaika Mihambo, an Olympic long jump silver medalist, who will inaugurate the fan zone. Gina Lückenkemper expressed her excitement about returning to the event, recalling the joy of winning the Olympic bronze with her relay team.

US superstar Grant Holloway, known for his dominance in the 110m hurdles and a three-time world champion, shared his relief at winning the Olympic gold, which has eased his competitive pressures. Holloway, who recently won at a Diamond League meeting in Poland, remains optimistic about breaking the world record and holds ISTAF as one of his favorite events.

Leo Neugebauer is set to experience his first ISTAF competition, eagerly anticipating the unique atmosphere and the interaction with the fans. He, along with other decathletes including Niklas Kaul, will face the challenge of a new triathlon format involving 100 meters, discus throw, and 1,500 meters races. This format will utilize the Gundersen method, ensuring a dynamic and conclusive finish to the competitions.

For those attending, ticket booths at the stadium will open at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, promising a day rich with athletic excellence and international camaraderie at the ISTAF 2024.