SHOT PUT MEN
The American Joe Kovacs returns to the Golden Gala after last year's success (21.85) and also meets again who has won before him, two-time world champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand, winner in Florence 2021. Very close friends, their confrontation include one of the most beautiful finals ever, Doha 2019, where Kovacs took gold at the end with Walsh, 22.90 on the first throw, just to bronze. Since then, the gap between Kovacs and superstar Ryan Crouser has become smaller. While the red-haired giant just set the world record with 23.56, Kovacs amazed in the Diamond League final last year in Zurich with 23.23, second performer ever. World champion in 2015 and 2019, two-time Olympic and world silver medallist, Kovacs opened the outdoor season with 22.69. High probability of the first over-22 metres at the Golden Gala.
Kovacs has compatriots Josh Awotunde and Tripp Piperi with him, Czech Tomas Stanek, Italian Zane Weir (European indoor champion), and European outdoor champion Filip Mihaljevic (Croatia). Add Tom Walsh (three times Diamond League champion) and Leonardo Fabbri, who in 2021 did not win the Golden Gala despite having the best throw (21.71) due to the old regulation of the Final 3, and here is served a race with outstanding content, which also includes the Serbian European silver medallist in Munich Armin Sinancevic. Fabbri is super motivated, Florence is his home and the previous edition speaks in his favour. Weir landed over 22m in the European indoor final (22.06), this year he's already achieved four of his ten best career performances. For him two participations in the Golden Gala with two seventh places.
World record 23,56 Ryan Crouser (Usa) | Los Angeles | 27 May 2023
Meeting record 21,97 Konrad Bukowiecki (Pol) | Rome | 6 June 2019
World lead 23,56 Ryan Crouser (Usa) | Los Angeles | 27 May 2023
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DISCUS THROW WOMEN
Eleventh time of the discipline at the Golden Gala, and the line-up is star-studded, with the world champion and the Olympic champion. Feng Bin, the Chinese who took the world gold medal in Oregon is in good condition and recently won the international match in Halle, Germany. Olympic gold medallist Valarie Allman hasn't thrown below 67 metres since last June. Out of the competition Sandra Perkovic, two Olympic gold medals and meeting record holder with 68.93.
Alongside the two favorites, is competing at the Golden Gala the Dutch Jorinde Van Klinken, capable of a 70-metres throw in her career and looking for a top position after double fourth place in the world final in Eugene and at the European championship in Munich, where was seventh the German Shanice Craft, also present in Florence. The cast is completed by the Italian record holder Daisy Osakue, the Portuguese Liliana Ca (fifth in Tokyo and sixth in Eugene), the American Laulauga Tausaga-Collins and the Brazilian Izabela da Silva.
World record 76,80 Gabriele Reinsch (Gdr) | Neubrandenburg | 9 July 1988
Meeting record 68,93 Sandra Perkovic (Cro) | Rome | 31 May 2018
World lead 70,25 Valarie Allman (Usa) | San Diego | 7 April 2023
