Schippers to compete in Oslo for first time – IAAF Diamond League

Dafne Schippers has never before competed at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, but the world 200m champion will contest her specialist event at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo on 9 June.

This year Schippers plans to emulate the feats of another Dutch legend by winning the 100m and 200m at the Olympic Games, a triumph achieved by Fanny Blankers-Koen at the 1948 Olympic Games.

Schippers, like Blankers-Koen, was a former all-round talent whose career has blossomed after concentrating on the sprints. After winning the 100m at the 2013 European U23 Championships, Schippers took the 100m and 200m sprint double at the 2014 European Championships in Zurich.

But it was at last year’s IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 that Schippers really displayed her true ability and potential. After finishing a close second to double Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m with a personal best of 10.81, Schippers then won the 200m in a European and championship record of 21.63, moving to third on the world all-time list.

This summer will also mark 70 years since Blankers-Koen’s European sprint double at the Bislett Stadium, winning the 100m and 200m just six weeks after giving birth to her daughter.

Organisers for the IAAF

2016 IAAF Diamond League calendar
6 May – Doha, QAT
14 May – Shanghai, CHN
22 May – Rabat, MAR
28 May – Eugene, USA
2 Jun – Rome, ITA
5 Jun – Birmingham, GBR
9 Jun – Oslo, NOR
16 Jun – Stockholm, SWE
15 Jul – Monaco, MON
22-23 Jul – London, GBR
25 Aug – Lausanne, SUI
27 Aug – Paris, FRA
1 Sep – Zurich, SUI
9 Sep – Brussels, BEL