Top five athletes to watch out for in Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 Athletics Meet

Unfortunately, reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has pulled out from competing at the event.

The highly anticipated Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 athletics meet will take place in the Czech Republic. On Tuesday, June 27, Ostrava will host the crème de la crème of the world's athletics talent and expect an intense showdown as the finest athletes from across the globe compete for crucial points and qualification standards for the upcoming World Championships.

Below are five athletes to keep an eye on during the Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 Athletics Meet.

Armand Duplantis (Pole Vault)

Armand Duplantis, the Swedish Olympic pole vault champion shattered the world record for the sixth time in his remarkable career. This extraordinary achievement occurred at the All Star Perche 2023 event held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on 25 February 2023. Affectionately known as "Mondo," Armand Duplantis soared over the bar, reaching an astounding height of 6.22m to secure his place in history. At just 23 years old, this athletics superstar continues to redefine the boundaries of the pole vault discipline.

The indoor and outdoor world record-holder has also achieved incredible success in major competitions. The Swedish athlete secured gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and also holds the titles of European indoor and outdoor Champiosnhips.

Duplantis' remarkable achievements coupled with his unrivaled talent has made him a must-watch athlete in the event.

Lamecha Girma (1500 Meters)

Lamecha Girma, the Ethiopian athlete is another standout competitor to keep an eye on. He claimed the silver medal in the 3000 meters steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. During his race in Ostrava last year, Girma shattered the Ethiopian 3000m steeplechase record with an impressive time of 7:58.68. In the upcoming 2023 event, he will return to compete in the Zátopek Memorial 1500 meters.

Since his standout performance in Ostrava, Girma has continued to excel in his athletic pursuits. He secured a second world silver medal in Oregon and achieved the remarkable feat of breaking the world indoor 3000m record at the World Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin. Girma crossed the finish line in a blistering time of 7:23.81. Notably, on June 9, he also broke a 19-year-old world record in the men's steeplechase at the Diamond League meeting in Paris.

Tobi Amusan (100m hurdles)

Tobi Amusan, the world record-holder in the 100-meter hurdles from Nigeria, is a formidable athlete to watch out for. Amusan etched her name in history by setting a world record time of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

Continuing her dominance, she clinched the gold medal with a wind-assisted time of 12.06 seconds. With such impressive performances, there is a strong possibility that the Golden Spike record of 12.55 seconds set by Sharika Nelvis in 2015 could face a serious challenge from Amusan.

The women's 100m hurdles event promises to be thrilling as Tobi Amusan will face stiff competition in the form of Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Puerto Rico entering as both the reigning champion from last year and the Olympic gold medalist. Furthermore, Camacho-Quinn has maintained an unbeaten streak and currently holds the title of the world leader in the event.

The clash between Amusan and Camacho-Quinn adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the competition, as fans eagerly await to see these two exceptional athletes go head-to-head for glory in the Golden Spike Athletics Meet.

Andre De Grasse (100m)

One cannot overlook the presence of Andre De Grasse, the Canadian Olympic champion and six-time Olympic medallist who will be competing in the 100m event with a personal record of 9.89. The Canadian will face tough adversaries including South African sprinter Akani Simbine who has clocked a best time of 9.84. Another standout athlete to watch out for is the sensational Samuele Ceccarelli from Italy, the current European indoor champion, boasting a time of 10.13.

Joe Fahnbulleh from Liberia, an Olympic and world finalist with a time of 9.98, dares to take on a double challenge in Ostrava. Fahnbulleh will not only participate in the 100m but also the 200m event, where he aims to attack Usain Bolt's meeting record of 19.83 with his own impressive time of 19.83. The presence of these exceptional athletes guarantees fierce competition in the sprints section of Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 Athletics Meet.

Kristjan Čeh - (Discus Throw)

In the realm of throws discipline, watch out for the exceptional talent of Kristjan Čeh from Slovenia. As the reigning discus world champion, Čeh has recently showcased his remarkable skills by achieving a phenomenal performance. Just last week, he recorded a throw of 71.86 meters, marking the best performance in the past 15 years.

In 2022, Kristjan Čeh exhibited unparalleled dominance by emerging as the World Champion while also securing the European silver medal and clinching the prestigious Diamond League title.

As the Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 Athletics Meet approaches, the question lingers: will history repeat itself for Čeh in 2023? With his outstanding track record and exceptional abilities, all eyes are on Čeh as he aims to replicate his past successes and make his mark in the upcoming competition.

Regrettably, Neeraj Chopra , the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion will not be participating in the Ostrava Golden Spike 2023 athletics meet. Chopra has been sidelined from competition due to a muscle strain. However, there is good news on the horizon as Chopra is set to make his return to the track at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on June 30th.