Gianmarco Tamberi starts the defense of his Diamond League title in Rome

Italian high jump star Gianmarco Tamberi will return at home for the Diamond League in Rome this Friday. The reigning Diamond League high jump champion will begin the defense of his title in front of his home crowd at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. It will be his third appearance in the competition in four years.

Gianmarco Tamberi, a national hero for Italy after winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is expected to bring the crowd to its feet.

The fifth round of the Diamond League will be the perfect start to the season for the Italian, who is aiming to defend his world and Diamond League titles in 2025.

The Italian star has never won the Diamond League in Italy and will be hoping to break that streak when he makes his seventh appearance at the Golden Gala this week.

He will face world-class competitors including current Olympic champion Hamish Kerr, JuVaughn Harrison and 2023 Diamond League champion Woo Sang-hyeok.