London Athletics Meet

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London Athletics Meet
Olympic Stadium (London), 16 April 2012.jpg
London Stadium, current host of the annual event
DateJuly – August
Location London, England (Glasgow, Scotland in 2014/Gateshead, England in 2021/Birmingham, England in 2022)
Event type Track and field
World Athletics Cat. GW [1]
Established1953;72 years ago (1953)
Official site London Anniversary Games
Athletics current event.svg 2025 London Athletics Meet

The London Athletics Meet, formerly known as the London Grand Prix and subsequently as the Anniversary Games and London Diamond League, is an annual athletics event held in London, England. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the Diamond League. From 1997 through 2005 the meetings were known as the British Grand Prix, before that name reverted to the meetings usually held in Gateshead and Birmingham.

Contents

As the London Grand Prix, until 2012 most editions were held at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace. The 2013 edition was renamed the Anniversary Games as it took place at the Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, exactly one year after the Olympic Games were held in the same venue. It was followed by an IPC London Grand Prix, making it a three-day event. [2] In 2014 the meet was held in Glasgow, Scotland, as preparation for the Commonwealth Games held there later that month. [3]

Editions

The event has been sponsored by a variety of companies including Peugeot, Norwich Union, Sainsbury's and Müller.

Venues

Venues for the London Athletics Meet
YearsVenueRegionCountry
1953–1963?? England
1964–1996, 1999–2012 National Sports Centre Crystal Palace, London England
1997–1998 Don Valley Stadium [78] Sheffield England
2013, 2015–2019, 2023–2025 London Stadium Stratford, London England
2014 Hampden Park [3] Mount Florida, Glasgow Scotland
2021 Gateshead International Stadium Gateshead [68] England
2022 Alexander Stadium Birmingham [71] England

Emsley Carr Mile

The Emsley Carr Mile remains a fixture at the annual meeting, with a history spanning back to 1953 at the White City Stadium. Emsley Carr, an athletics fan and the editor of The News of the World , created an annual mile race in the hope that the first four-minute mile would be achieved on British soil. Gordon Pirie won the first race, but Roger Bannister had run under 4 minutes in Oxford by time that the second race was competed. However, the tradition continued, with the winner signing his name in a red leather-bound book identical to the Bible used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Derek Ibbotson achieved the first sub-4-minute run at the race in 1956, and many of the best middle-distance runners have won at the Emsley Carr Mile since, including Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett and Hicham El Guerrouj. [79]

Millicent Fawcett Mile

The Millicent Fawcett Mile, a women's race, was first held in the 2018 Anniversary Games and won by Sifan Hassan in 4:14.71. [80] It commemorates suffragist Millicent Fawcett. [81] There had been a women's mile event at previous games, without this title, the previous record being held by Hellen Obiri who ran in 2017 in 4:16.56.

History

In 2009 pole vault favourite Yelena Isinbayeva lost for the first time in 18 competitions, beaten by Anna Rogowska. Kate Dennison set an eighth British record in the pole vault. [82]

On 24 January 2013 it was announced that London Grand Prix would be moved to the Olympic Stadium for 2013. The London Legacy Development Corporation had expressed interest in holding an athletics event at the stadium to coincide with the first anniversary of the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics. [83] After the 2013 event, a return to Crystal Palace was ruled out as according to Ed Warner it would be a backward step.

Hampden Park, which was due to host the athletics events at the Commonwealth Games and a temporary venue in Horse Guards Parade and the Mall, were mooted for the 2014 edition, before a return to the Olympic Stadium in 2015 due to a gap in the reconstruction schedule. [84] A four-year sponsorship deal with Sainsbury's was announced in January 2014. [85] In February 2014 it was confirmed that the Grand Prix event would move to Hampden Park and be known as the Glasgow Grand Prix. [3] The event returned to London in 2015 and continued to be known as the Anniversary Games until 2021.

The 2021 event, due to be held on 13 July, was moved away from London Stadium to Gateshead International Stadium due to the difficulty of reconfiguring the stadium for a single athletics event. [86] [68]

World records

Over the course of its history, a number of world records have been set at the London Grand Prix.

World records set at the London Athletics Meet
YearEventRecordAthleteNationality
1986 2000 m 5:28.69 Maricica Puică Flag of Romania.svg Romania
2004 Pole vault 4.90 m Yelena Isinbaeva Flag of Russia.svg Russia
2005 Pole vault 4.96 m Yelena Isinbaeva Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Pole vault 5.00 m Yelena Isinbaeva Flag of Russia.svg Russia
2016 100 m hurdles 12.20 (+0.3 m/s) Kendra Harrison Flag of the United States.svg United States
2018 T38 200 m25.93 Sophie Hahn Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
T34 100 m16.80 Kare Adenegan Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
3000 m walk (track)10:43.84 Tom Bosworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
2023 U20 5000 m 14:16.54 [s] Medina Eisa Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia

Meeting records

Men

Women

Notes

  1. 1 2 Also known as Royal Watches International Games
  2. 1 2 3 4 Also known as Talbot (International) Games
  3. ↑ Also known as Peugeot Talbot Games and Talbot Games
  4. 1 2 3 Also known as Peugeot Talbot Games
  5. ↑ Also known as Peugeot Games and Peugeot Talbot Games
  6. ↑ Also known as Royal Mail Parcels Games and Peugeot Games
  7. ↑ Also known as Royal Mail Parcels Games and Parcelforce Games
  8. ↑ Also known as Parcelforce Games
  9. ↑ Also known as TSB Grand Prix
  10. 1 2 Also known as TSB Games
  11. ↑ Also known as TSB Games and KP Games
  12. 1 2 Also known as British Grand Prix and Securicor Games [29]
  13. 1 2 Officially known as British Grand Prix
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Officially known as Norwich Union British Grand Prix
  15. ↑ Officially known as Norwich Union Super Grand Prix
  16. ↑ Officially known as Müller British Grand Prix [68]
  17. ↑ Officially known as Müller Birmingham Diamond League [70] [71]
  18. ↑ Also known as London Diamond League [73] [74]
  19. ↑ Not ratified as no anti-doping test was taken after the race. [87]

References

  1. ↑ "Events Calendar Diamond League Meetings". World Athletics. 2024.
  2. ↑ Mackay, Duncan (13 February 2013). "Olympic Stadium to host Paralympic event as climax of three-day London 2012 anniversary celebration". Inside the Games . Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Hampden to host London Diamond League meeting". BBC Sport . 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 COMPILATION NOTES GBRathletics. Retrieved on 2013-03-08.
  5. ↑ Coote, James (23 August 1978). "Improved Ashton in Palace Clash with Juantorena". The Daily Telegraph . p. 27. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Results of Rotary Watches International Games 1978". Daily Mirror . 24 August 1978. p. 27. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ovett just misses Coe's mile record". The Daily Telegraph . 1 September 1979. p. 30. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Rotary Watches Meet 2 mi Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  9. ↑ Mays, Ken (28 June 1980). "Steve Ovett 1500 fastest of year". The Daily Telegraph . p. 28. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Mays, Ken (1 August 1981). "Coe is passed and then shows power & strength". The Daily Telegraph . p. 23. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Rodda, John (21 August 1981). "Coe poised for Athens double". The Guardian . p. 20. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Mays, Ken (16 July 1983). "Coe loses 1,500m in final straight". The Daily Telegraph . p. 28. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Talbot Games 3 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  14. 1 2 Rodda, John (14 July 1984). "Budd resists Boxer's best". The Guardian . p. 11. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Talbot Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "IAAF Grand Prix schedules 1985-1995 (PDF)". IAAF . Retrieved 8 August 2025– via Google Drive.
  17. ↑ "SCAAA Peugeot Talbot Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "IAAF International Calendar 1986 (PDF)". World Athletics . 1 April 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Peugeot Talbot Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "Peugeot Talbot Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  21. ↑ "Peugeot-Talbot Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Block, Gillon (15 July 1989). "Astute Pascoe strikes corporate gold". The Herald . Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  23. ↑ "Parcelforce Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  24. ↑ "Parcelforce Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  25. ↑ "TSB Grand Prix 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  26. ↑ "TSB Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  27. ↑ "TSB Games 5 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  28. 1 2 "KP Games 10 km Results". Association of Road Racing Statisticians . Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  29. ↑ "Grand Prix & Grand Prix II". IAAF . Archived from the original on 23 February 1997. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  30. ↑ "1996 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  31. ↑ "British Grand Prix - London 1996". IAAF . 12 July 1996. Archived from the original on 2 May 1997. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  32. ↑ "British Grand Prix - Sheffield 1997". IAAF . 29 June 1997. Archived from the original on 23 February 1998. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  33. ↑ "British Grand Prix - Sheffield 1998". IAAF . 2 August 1998. Archived from the original on 29 January 1999. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  34. ↑ Martin, David (7 August 1999). "'Uncatchable' Africans chase staggering new world times". The Independent . p. 45. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  35. ↑ "1999 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  36. ↑ "British Grand Prix - London 1999". IAAF . 7 August 1999. Archived from the original on 17 February 2001. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  37. ↑ "2000 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  38. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2000". IAAF . 5 August 2000. Archived from the original on 7 July 2001. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  39. ↑ "2001 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  40. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2001". IAAF . 22 July 2001. Archived from the original on 18 August 2001. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  41. ↑ "2002 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  42. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2002". IAAF . 23 August 2002. Archived from the original on 17 October 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  43. ↑ "2003 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  44. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2003". IAAF . 8 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  45. ↑ "2004 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  46. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2004". IAAF . 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  47. ↑ "2005 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  48. ↑ "Norwich Union British Grand Prix - London 2005". IAAF . 22 July 2005. Archived from the original on 28 December 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  49. ↑ "2006 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  50. ↑ "Norwich Union London Grand Prix - London 2006". IAAF . 28 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  51. ↑ "2007 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  52. ↑ "Norwich Union Super Grand Prix - London 2007". IAAF . 3 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  53. ↑ "2008 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  54. ↑ "Aviva London Grand Prix 2008". IAAF . 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  55. ↑ "2009 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  56. ↑ "Aviva London Grand Prix 2009". IAAF . 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  57. ↑ "2010 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  58. ↑ "2011 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  59. ↑ "2012 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  60. ↑ "2013 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  61. ↑ "2014 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  62. ↑ "2015 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  63. ↑ "2016 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  64. ↑ "2017 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  65. ↑ "2018 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  66. ↑ "2019 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  67. ↑ "Anniversary Games 2020 cancelled because of coronavirus". BBC Sport . 12 May 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  68. 1 2 3 "Diamond League in London moves to Gateshead". Athletics Weekly . 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  69. ↑ "2021 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  70. ↑ "2022 Birmingham DL: Keely Hodgkinson & Laura Muir Open Up Impressively as Abel Kipsang Stays Red-Hot". LetsRun.com . 21 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  71. 1 2 "Calendar – Diamond League". Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  72. ↑ "2022 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  73. ↑ LetsRun.com. "2023 London Athletics Meet -- London Diamond League". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  74. ↑ "UK ATHLETICS LINES UP THRILLING LONDON STADIUM RETURN IN JULY 2023". British Athletics. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  75. ↑ "2023 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  76. ↑ "2024 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  77. ↑ "2025 Results". dl.all-athletics.com. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  78. ↑ Rowbottom, Mike (4 May 1999). "Athletics: Palace regains top race". The Independent . Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  79. ↑ Powell, David (2003-08-07). Emsley Carr Mile stands test of time [ dead link ]. The Times . Retrieved on 2009-07-31.
  80. ↑ "Programme 2018 and results". Muller Anniversary Games. Diamond League. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  81. ↑ "First ever Millicent Fawcett Mile to be held at Muller Anniversary Games". British Athletics. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  82. ↑ Brown, Matthew (2009-07-24). Against the wind Bolt blasts 9.91, Isinbayeva's win streak halted at 18 – London Day 1 – IAAF World Athletics Tour. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-07-25.
  83. ↑ "Olympic Stadium to host Diamond League meeting". BBC Sport. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  84. ↑ "Athletics could return to the Olympic Stadium in 2015 due to a gap in its rebuilding schedule". 28 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  85. ↑ http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2014-news-page/january-2014/01-01-14-sainsburys-sponsorship/ [ dead link ]
  86. ↑ "CHANGE OF VENUE FOR MÜLLER ANNIVERSARY GAMES". UK Athletics. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  87. ↑ "Spotlight on Rising Stars: Medina Eisa and Erriyon Knighton". World Athletics . 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024. No anti-doping test was taken after the race which meant her time could not be ratified as a record, but it still counts for ranking purposes.
  88. ↑ "Results 100m Final Men". Diamond League . Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  89. ↑ "200m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  90. ↑ "400m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  91. ↑ "800m Men Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  92. 1 2 Mays, Ken (15 July 1989). "Jackson equals his record to beat Kingdom". The Daily Telegraph . p. 31. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  93. ↑ "1500m Men Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  94. ↑ "Men - 1 Mile results". IAAF . 5 August 2000. Archived from the original on 8 September 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  95. ↑ "3000m Result" (PDF). sportresult.com. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  96. ↑ "3000m Result". IAAF . 7 August 1999. Archived from the original on 22 February 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  97. ↑ "Men - 5000m Official Result". IAAF . 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  98. ↑ "110 Metres Hurdles Results". IAAF. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  99. ↑ "Warholm smashes European 400m hurdles record with 47.12". European Athletics. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  100. ↑ "3000 m steeplechase Men: Results" (PDF). Diamond League . Omega Timing. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  101. ↑ "Pole Vault Results" (PDF). static.sportresult.com. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  102. ↑ "Long Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  103. ↑ "Triple Jump Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  104. ↑ "Shot Put Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  105. ↑ "Discus Throw Men Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  106. ↑ "Men - Javelin Throw results". IAAF . 22 July 2001. Archived from the original on 26 July 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  107. ↑ "1 Mile Race Walk Men Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 9 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  108. ↑ "3000m Race Walk Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  109. ↑ "4×100m Relay Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  110. ↑ Matthew Brown (21 July 2009). "Bolt leads Jamaican club's 400-relay team to 37.46". www.bleacherreport.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  111. ↑ "100m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  112. ↑ "200m Women Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  113. ↑ "400m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  114. ↑ "800m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  115. 1 2 "1 Mile Women Results" (PDF). Diamond League . 19 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  116. ↑ Rodda, John (12 July 1986). "Double blow for Budd as Scot is second to Puica". The Guardian . p. 16. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  117. ↑ "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  118. ↑ "100m Hurdles Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 22 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  119. ↑ "400m Hurdles Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  120. ↑ "Bol blazes to 51.45 Diamond League record in London | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  121. ↑ "Women - High Jump Official Result". IAAF . 28 July 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  122. ↑ "Women - Pole Vault Official Result". IAAF . 22 July 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  123. ↑ "Long Jump Women results" (PDF). Diamond League. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  124. ↑ "Shot put Women: Results" (PDF). Diamond League . Omega Timing. 27 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  125. ↑ "Women's Discus Throw Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  126. ↑ "Javelin Throw Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 9 July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  127. ↑ "Women's 4 × 100m Relay Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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