07 May 2010

Reigning world indoor and outdoor High Jump champion Blanka Vlasic is set to compete at the Aviva London Grand Prix on August 13 and 14, where she will face elite opposition from around the globe in the newly formed IAAF Diamond League.

Vlasic will kick-start her Diamond League campaign next Friday, at the first meet in Doha, where she was crowned World indoor champion in March.  The Croatian athlete will be hoping that by the time she arrives in the UK she will be well on her way to claiming the diamond prize on offer come the end of the series.

Last year, in only her second appearance in the capital, Vlasic won the high jump clearing a height of 2.02m, and she is expecting much the same this year.

She said: “I am really looking forward to competing at the Aviva London Grand Prix, not only does it have a fantastic atmosphere because of the size of the place and the athletes that compete, but also because I performed really well last year – I’d love to repeat that this time.

“As part of the Diamond League series, I know that I will be competing against the very best in the world, which is daunting but always pushes me to perform at my very best and hopefully I will do that this year.”

Since 2007 Vlasic has enjoyed great success with four successive world titles, although she is perhaps best remembered for the Beijing Olympic final where as the pre-event favourite she had to settle for silver behind Belgian Tia Hellebaut, despite jumping brilliantly and clearing 2.05m.

Vlasic is also continuing her personal pursuit to break the high jump world record of 2.09m set by Stefka Kostadinova back in 1987. Her best attempt to date was 2.08m set in Zagreb last August, and she has already cleared 2.06m in February, which suggests the Croatian is in scintillating form.

Vlasic is returning to the city for what will be the UK’s second IAAF Diamond League event.  The new IAAF Diamond League is an international series of 14 events, of which the Aviva London Grand Prix is the only event to have a two-day programme.

Tickets for the Aviva London Grand Prix at the Crystal Palace on 13th & 14th August are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk