Preview: Olympic Champions Set for Blockbuster Clashes at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome
The 2025 Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, set for Friday, June 6 at Rome’s iconic Olympic Stadium, promises a star-studded evening of world-class athletics. With a lineup boasting 11 Olympic champions, 15 Diamond League titleholders, and 62 global and continental medalists, this year’s edition serves as a thrilling preview to the World Championships in Tokyo. The meet features Olympic re-matches, rising young stars, and fierce national rivalries across all disciplines—from sprinting to field events—delivering elite drama in front of a passionate Roman crowd.
Men’s Long Jump:
Greece’s Olympic, world, and European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou will headline the long jump showdown against Italy’s prodigy and reigning world indoor champion Mattia Furlani. Tentoglou, who won European gold in Rome last year with 8.65m, holds a 13–2 head-to-head advantage over Furlani, though the Italian has won their two most recent clashes—including a world indoor title in Nanjing with 8.30m. The field includes Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer, Jamaica’s Carey McLeod, Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Sarabouykov, and Diamond League winner Thobias Montler, among others.
Women’s 5000 Metres:
Beatrice Chebet, the double Olympic champion and world record holder in the 10,000m (28:54.14), will face Italy’s Nadia Battocletti and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay. Battocletti returns to Rome, where she claimed double European gold last year and recently clocked a 3:58.15 1500m. Tsegay, a two-time world champion and former 5000m world record holder (14:00.21), will renew her rivalry with Chebet. The field includes Freweyni Hailu, Marta Alemayo, Shelby Houlihan, and Karissa Schweizer.
Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles:
Cordell Tinch, the world leader with 12.87, faces Olympic silver medallist Daniel Roberts and European champion Lorenzo Simonelli. Tinch nearly broke the world record this year and leads a deep field that includes world medallists Wilhelm Belocian, Asler Martinez, and Omar McLeod.
Men’s 100 Metres:
Nine sprinters with sub-10 credentials are in Rome, including Fred Kerley, Trayvon Bromell, Ferdinand Omanyala, and NCAA champion Courtney Lindsey. Italy’s Filippo Tortu and Chituru Ali, both European silver medallists, aim to impress on home soil.
Women’s Discus Throw:
Two-time Olympic champion Valarie Allman returns to Rome in dominant form, having thrown 73.52m this season. She’ll face Croatia’s Sandra Elkasevic, China’s Feng Bin, and world champion Laulauga Tausaga in a showdown between the sport’s elite.
Men’s Shot Put:
European champion Leonardo Fabbri leads a stacked field that includes Zane Weir, Joe Kovacs, Tom Walsh, and Payton Otterdahl. Kovacs and Otterdahl hold the season’s best throws at 23.23m and 21.97m, respectively.
Women’s Pole Vault:
Swiss star Angelica Moser returns to Rome as the reigning European champion and national record holder (4.88m). She’ll compete against Sandi Morris, Marie-Julie Bonnin, and Italy’s Roberta Bruni in a deep international field.
Women’s Triple Jump:
Dominica’s Thea Lafond, the Olympic and world indoor champion, headlines a loaded triple jump field featuring Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts, Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez, Spain’s Ana Peleteiro, and Italy’s Daryia Derkach.
Men’s High Jump:
Olympic champions Hamish Kerr and Gianmarco Tamberi go head-to-head in front of a passionate Roman crowd. Tamberi seeks his first Golden Gala win in his seventh appearance, while world indoor champ Woo Sanghyeok and Ju’Vaughn Harrison round out a world-class field.
Men’s 400 Metres:
Olympic gold medallist Quincy Hall will race against legends Kirani James and Zakhiti Nene (WL 43.76), plus European medallists Alexander Doom and Charles Dobson in a potential sub-44 showdown.
Women’s 200 Metres:
Anavia Battle looks for a Diamond League hat-trick after back-to-back wins in Xiamen and Keqiao. She’s challenged by Golden Gala winner Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith, Jenna Prandini, Jessika Gbai, and Italy’s Dalia Kaddari.
Men’s 1500 Metres:
2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot faces Kenya’s new stars Reynold Cheruiyot and Brian Komen. A deep field includes Oliver Hoare, Elliot Giles, and Italy’s in-form Federico Riva (PB 1:44.80 in the 800m).
Women’s 400 Metres Hurdles:
Rushell Clayton leads the field, joined by Jamaicans Shiann Salmon and Andrenette Knight, France’s Louise Maraval, Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso, and South Africa’s Zeney Geldenyus Van der Walt.
