„Ostrava will be my first outdoor competition in Europe and I am really looking forward to jump for first time in Czechia. My training and preparation home in Louisiana has gone very well so I feel confident and hope for good conditions.“

Joshua Cheptegei at 3000 m

Last year, he improved Bekele's legendary world records at 5000 m and 10 000 m. He also got road World records at 5 and 10 km. Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei is getting ready for the Olympic double. The Ostrava start at 3000 m plays an important role in the preparation for the shorter distance. He wants to significantly improve his personal maximum in this discipline (so far 7: 33.26), the meet record  7: 31.66. It will be his debut at Golden Spike. 

Dafne Schippers at 200 m

Dutch two-time world champion Dafne Schippers likes Ostrava. In 2018, she won the 200 m in 22.52 and last year she triumphed at an unconventional 150 in 16.56, which is the best European time in history. She is thinking about the third triumph from three starts, but it will not be easy. The start was confirmed by the legendary Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Olympic winner and world champion with the best time of 22.09. But a surprise may be the new star, the young American Sha´Carri Richardson, who ran one of the best hundreds in history in Florida in April 10.72. Her best at 200 m is 22.00.

Andre de Grasse at 100 m

One hundred under ten seconds is always the dream of every organizer. If the weather cooperates, there will be more candidates at the start to break this barrier. Olympic medalist from Canada Andre de Grasse and World champion 2017 Justin Gatlin, who has already reached a time under 10 this year (twice 9.98) despite the fact that he is already 39.

Špotáková and Staněk

World recorder Barbora Špotáková will start from the Czech elite in the javelin in a duel with Nikola Ogrodníková, in the men's javelin Jakub Vadlejch, European indoor shot put champion Tomáš Staněk in shot put, Pavel Maslák at the 400 m, Jakub Holuša and Filip Sasínek at the 1500 m, Zuzana Hejnová in the 400 m Hurdles, Radek Juška and Adam Sebastian Helcelet in the long jump or the home Ostrava runner Simona Vrzalová in the 1500 m.

Previously

Previously announced were the world's best javelin thrower Johannes Vetter, the best hammer thrower in history Anita Wlodarczyk or world champion meet record holder in the pole vault Sam Kendricks.

Spectators

Golden Spike Ostrava was granted an exemption from the ban on holding mass events, and allowed spectators number will be 10% from the capacity which means 1500 fans.

Puma supports Golden Spike

“Athletics has always been part of the rich history of our brand, which is why we have decided to continue our proud partnership of the renowned international Zlatá tretra competition this year. One of our key global ambassadors, world record holder Usain Bolt, fell in love with this traditional athletics meet, and the partnership between PUMA and Zlatá tretra is very close to our hearts. It is an honor and a pleasure for us to be able to provide products and equipment for teams of the world's best athletes, in so doing becoming a real part of their community,” said Jan Sochor, General Manager Puma Eastern Europe.