Burgin hopes home crowd will inspire more Diamond League success

The pair were part of a high-quality contest in London in 2025 and are set to meet again in the event, part of the Wanda Diamond League Series. Olympic champion Wanyonyi took victory on that occasion in a meeting record of 1:42.00, with Burgin finishing third in a personal best 1:42.36.

Wanyonyi went on to underline his status as one of the leading middle-distance athletes in the world by claiming the global title in Tokyo in a championship record time of 1:41.86.

Burgin also impressed on the world stage, finishing sixth in a historic final in which all eight athletes broke the 1:43.00 barrier, improving his personal best to 1:42.29.

Burgin has made a strong start to his 2026 campaign. The British athlete clocked a world-leading 1:42.98 to secure his first Diamond League victory in Rabat, finishing ahead of Wanyonyi in second place.

And he hopes that a big home crowd will inspire more success in London. Burgin said: “I’ve had some of the best performances of my career at the London stadium. I’m hoping for another big one this year, and having the best in the world alongside me in the race will push me to that extra level, I’m sure of it.”

Off the track, Wanyonyi celebrated becoming a father at the start of June before returning to competition at the Oslo Diamond League.

There, he finished second in a thrilling photo finish, clocking 1:42.09 as American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus edged victory by one hundredth of a second with a new world-leading time of 1:42.08.

Wanyonyi said: "I'm really excited to come back to London. I have good memories from last year, of course, after winning the race in a solid 1:42.00. Because 2026 is not a World Champs or Olympic year, I'm very focused on the Diamond League circuit.

“My goal and hope in London is to repeat the victory from last year and to run a very fast time."