World Athletics Indoor Showdown in Ostrava: Star-Studded Lineups Revealed

World Athletics Gears Up for Thrilling Indoor Showdown in Ostrava

Ostrava, Czech Republic – Organizers of the prestigious Czech Indoor Gala have announced an impressive lineup of global and European medallists set to compete in the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting on January 30th.

Headlining the event is two-time world indoor champion Tom Walsh of New Zealand, who will lead a star-studded field in the men’s shot put. The 2017 world champion, who holds the Oceania record of 22.90m, will face off against four men who have won continental titles: European champion Filip Mihaljevic, 2021 European indoor champion Tomas Stanek, 2018 European champion Michal Haratyk, and 2017 European indoor champion Konrad Bukowiecki. This will mark Walsh’s first indoor competition outside of the World Indoor Championships, despite his impressive resume.

The women’s 60m hurdles event promises to be equally thrilling, with two reigning European champions set to take on the defending champion from Ostrava. USA’s Alaysha Johnson, who clocked 7.87 to win the Czech Indoor Gala in 2023 and followed it up with a personal best of 7.82 and the US indoor title, will face off against European champion Pia Skrzyszkowska and European indoor champion Reetta Hurske, as well as 2018 world indoor bronze medallist Nadine Visser.

In the men’s 400m, three-time world indoor champion Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic will square off against Hungarian record-holder Attila Molnar, with World mixed relay bronze medallist Patrik Sorm and multiple Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Pohorilko also in the line-up.