Preview: Duplantis, Warholm, and Alfred Set to Headline the 2025 Bislett Games in Oslo
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The 2025 Bislett Games in Oslo, scheduled for Thursday, June 12, will bring together many of the world’s top track and field stars for the fifth leg of the Wanda Diamond League. Fans at the iconic Bislett Stadium can look forward to thrilling showdowns including a world record attempt in the men’s 5000 metres by Ethiopian stars Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha, a rare 300 metres hurdles clash featuring Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, and Alison Dos Santos, and the highly anticipated seasonal debut of sprint sensation Julien Alfred in the women’s 100 metres.
Men’s Pole Vault:
World record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis aims for his fifth consecutive Diamond League title in Oslo. The Swedish superstar, a two-time Olympic and world champion, recently cleared 6.27m in Clermont Ferrand for his 11th world record. Duplantis has already notched victories this outdoor season in Xiamen (5.92m) and Keqiao (world-leading 6.11m). He is undefeated in Oslo since 2021.
Challengers include Emmanouil “Manolo” Karalis, who cleared 6.05m indoors this season and earned silver at the World Indoor Championships; two-time world outdoor champion and Olympic silver medallist Sam Kendricks; Norwegian star Sondre Guttormsen; and a deep field featuring Menno Vloon, Kurtis Marschall, Ernest John Obiena, and former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie.
Men’s 300 Metres Hurdles:
For the first time in history, the three fastest 400m hurdlers—Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, and Alison Dos Santos—will clash in the 300m hurdles. Warholm holds the world best of 33.05 (set this season in Xiamen), while Benjamin is fresh off double Olympic gold in Paris and Dos Santos has opened his 2025 campaign with three wins. Their rivalry will continue in the 400m hurdles in Stockholm later this week.
Women’s 100 Metres:
Julien Alfred, Olympic 100m champion and World Indoor 60m gold medallist, opens her outdoor season in Oslo. She faces strong opposition from European champion Dina Asher-Smith, three-time world medallist Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, Luxembourg’s Patrizia Van der Weken, and others.
Men’s 800 Metres:
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi leads a world-class 800m field. Wanyonyi ranks #2 all-time (1:41.11) and will face Paris silver medallist Djamel Sedjati, European champion Gabriel Tual, Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui (1:42.04), and Kenya’s Aaron Kemei Chemingwa.
Men’s 5000 Metres:
Ethiopians Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha target Joshua Cheptegei’s world record of 12:35.36. Both broke 12:40 in Oslo last year. The deep field also features world medallists Jacob Krop and Nicholas Kipkorir, Swiss star Dominic Lobalu, and emerging talents such as Biniam Mehary.
Men’s Mile:
Former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot faces European standouts Robert Farken, Samuel Pihlström, and Dutch teenage sensation Niels Laros, along with Norway’s Narve Gilje Nordas.
Women’s 400 Metres:
Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek (Bukowiecka), Olympic bronze medallist and European champion, headlines the women’s 400m against a loaded field including Rhasidat Adeleke, Henriette Jæger, Lieke Klaver, and Sada Williams.
Men’s 200 Metres:
Canadian Olympic champion André De Grasse, a four-time Bislett Games winner, leads the men’s 200m. Rivals include compatriot Aaron Brown, Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, Cuba’s Reynier Mena, Switzerland’s Timothé Mumenthaler, Italy’s Filippo Tortu, and Vernon Norwood of the USA.
Women’s Triple Jump:
All Olympic and World Indoor medallists will compete, led by Olympic champion Thea Lafond and world leader Shanieka Ricketts. Key challengers include Leyanis Pérez Hernández, Ana Peleteiro, and Jasmine Moore.
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
Dalilah Muhammad headlines a strong women’s 400m hurdles field that includes heptathlete Anna Hall, Jamaican star Shiann Salmon, Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso, and Norway’s Amalie Iuel.
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase:
Olympic champion Winfred Yavi faces Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich and world champion Norah Jeruto in a fast 3000m steeplechase. Cherotich and Yavi already own the two fastest times this year.
Men’s Triple Jump:
Olympic champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo battles Fabrice Zango and Lazaro Martinez in an elite men’s triple jump showdown.
Women’s Javelin:
Elina Tzengko looks for her fourth Diamond League win of the season but will face Olympic and world champion Haruka Kitaguchi, Olympic silver medallist Jo-Anne du Plessis, and world leader Adriana Vilagos.
Men’s Triathlon:
Decathlon stars Sander Skotheim, Markus Rooth, and Simon Ehammer will contest a triathlon (long jump, 110m hurdles, javelin) spread across two days.
Men’s Hammer Throw (Wednesday):
Reigning Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg leads the field against Olympic medallists Bence Halász and Mykhaylo Kokhan, five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek, and Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki.
