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The discus circle at Stockholm’s BAUHAUS-galan will be packed with world-class talent this Sunday—but for Swedish fans, the real story lies close to home.
Olympic gold medallist Daniel Ståhl and national record holder Vanessa Kamga return to the capital as carrying home hopes in the men’s and women’s competitions, proudly representing the present and future of Swedish throwing.
For Ståhl, who has already carved out a legendary career with Olympic gold in Tokyo and two World Athletics Championship titles, the focus has shifted this year—not just toward big throws, but smarter planning.
“I used to compete like 20–22 competitions every year,” Ståhl explains. “But now I’ve decided to do 14 or 15 this year. Through my career, I’ve always planned around preparing for the World Championships, European Championships, or the Olympics—those big meets where I want to throw far and win medals. That’s always been the goal.”
But no matter how carefully he maps out his calendar, Stockholm is always a fixed point.
“It means a lot,” he says. “I grew up here. This is where I was born. My friends and fans are all going to be there to watch. It’s amazing. I’m really excited.”
Excitement is something Vanessa Kamga has brought in abundance since her breakthrough fifth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, where she also shattered the Swedish national record with 65.14m. Still just 26, Kamga’s rise has been sharp—but not sudden.
“I started at 17,” she recalls. “I switched from basketball to track and field. I tried most of the throwing events, but it was discus where I qualified for juniors. I decided to put more time into it, and only a year and a half later, I set the Swedish junior record and qualified for my first European Championships. That was the moment I knew—this is what I’m going to do.”
Now, Kamga enters a new phase of her career—armed with belief, backed by results, and eager to make another leap.
“The biggest thing for me right now is that I’ve ended my past two seasons with a feeling that I’ve got so much more in the tank,” she says. “My best competitions always come right up until the end of the season—like end of September. The only reason I’ve stopped is because there weren’t any more meets left in Europe.”
That hunger, she believes, is about to pay off.
“I know I have big throws in me. I feel like something really big is just around the corner.”
Like Ståhl, Kamga cherishes the chance to compete on home soil at a Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.
“For all my friends in the athletics world to come here and see this beautiful city—it just means a lot. I’m really looking forward to having a home crowd cheering me on.”
With the likes of Armand Duplantis, Stahl, Henrik Larsson, Engla Nilsson, and Samuel Pihlström all competing, Kamga sees her journey as part of something bigger.
“We’ve got great momentum in Swedish athletics right now. I think we’re the next big generation—like after Stefan Holm, Kajsa Bergqvist, and the Kallurs. I’m really proud to be a part of that and to celebrate it here in Stockholm.”
