Olympic champions Jacobs, Lyles to faceoff in Rome DL
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 27.04.26. | 09:40
The 32-year-old home runner is making his first appearance in athletics’ premier one-day series since 2024
Italian sprint superstar Lamont Marcell Jacobs, will take on fellow Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the men's 100m at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Wanda Diamond League (DL) meeting in Rome on 4 June.
The former Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs returns to his home meeting in what is likely to be his 2026 season opener, having last competed at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, where he exited in the semis in the individual race.
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Jacobs made Italian athletics history when he stormed to a sensational Olympic gold in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Lyles stole his throne at Paris 2024, but Jacobs will be hoping to land a similar surprise in front of his home crowd at this year’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea.
The home runner, who has struggled on the international stage since his exploits in Tokyo six years ago, knows what it takes to win in Rome, having won European Championship gold at the Stadio Olimpico two years ago.
The 32-year-old will be chasing his first-ever Diamond League win at this year’s Golden Gala, as he makes his first appearance in athletics’ premier one-day series since 2024.
Rome is the fourth leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, which begins in Shanghai/Keqiao on 16 May and ends at the two-day series final in Brussels on 4 and 5 September.
The series unites the biggest names in track and field in some of the world’s most iconic arenas, crossing four continents and 15 cities over the course of the season.