The Novuna London Athletics Meet will feature top international and home-grown para-athletics talent as part of a thrilling day of action at the London Stadium on 18 July.
Across four races, the men’s ambulant 100m, women’s ambulant 100m, men’s ambulant 1500m and men’s wheelchair 1500m, Paralympians, world champions and record-breakers will line up to compete in front of strong home crowd.
Seven-time Paralympic champion Marcel Hug will be among those competing, returning to London just months after his eighth triumphant London Marathon victory in the men’s wheelchair race. He will swap road racing for the track this July as he lines up in the 1500m wheelchair race; an event in which he has won three World Championship gold medals.
Speaking on his return to London, the Swiss athlete said:
“London holds a very special place in my heart. Returning to the Olympic Stadium, where so many incredible Paralympic memories were made in 2012, never gets old. Every time I race there, I feel that same electricity in the air, and it genuinely moves me.”
The iconic London 2012 Paralympic Games marked Hug’s first medals since Athens 2004, as he claimed silver in both the T54 800m and marathon. He returned to London for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, where he won gold in both the T54 800m and 1500m.
Racing at the Novuna London Athletics meet, which is part of the Wanda Diamond League series, goes beyond personal success for Hug: “But beyond the personal connection, what excites me most is the platform this event gives to para sport. The London Diamond League brings together tens of thousands of passionate fans, and having wheelchair racing on that stage — alongside the world’s best able-bodied athletes — is exactly where we belong.
“It shows the world what para-athletes are capable of, and I believe moments like these are crucial for the growth and visibility of our sport. I can’t wait to compete in front of that crowd again. There’s nothing quite like it.”
Joining Hug in the men’s 1500m wheelchair race is long-time rival David Weir, who famously won four gold medals at London 2012. Canada’s Brent Lakatos will also feature — an athlete who has won international medals across distances ranging from 100m to 5000m.
In the women’s ambulant 100m, a strong mix of British and international talent will compete. Double Paralympic gold medallist and former T38 100m world record holder Sophie Hahn leads the field and is excited to return in front of a home crowd.
“I’m very excited to be competing at this year’s Diamond League. It’s always one of my favourite competitions of the year, and as a para-athlete we rarely get the opportunity to race in front of 60,000 people – especially on home soil. The crowd really helps inspire great performances and fast times.
“I can’t wait to see what I can do, it will also be great preparation ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Hahn will be looking to defend her 100m title from last year’s London meet. She is joined by Livvy Breen, who finished second in last year’s race, alongside fellow Britons Maddie Down and Ali Smith.
Ireland’s Orla Comerford will also feature following her impressive double world title in the T13 100m and 200m, while the Netherlands’ Fleur Jong, a world champion in both the T62 long jump and T64 100m, adds further international competition.
The men’s ambulant 1500m will see a world-class line-up featuring Ben Sandilands, the T20 Paralympic 1500m champion and world record holder.
The men’s ambulant 100m features a standout group of elite para-sprinters. Leading the field is Salum Ageze Kashafali, the T12 Paralympic 100m champion from Tokyo 2020. He is joined by Great Britain’s Zac Shaw, a multiple world champion and two-time Paralympic medallist, and Thomas Young, the T38 Paralympic 100m champion from Tokyo and a 2026 World Championship bronze medallist.
Get your tickets now: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/350062ED318C24DD
For more event information: https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/novuna-london-athletics-meet-2026/