World leaders Leonardo Fabbri and Jessica Schilder are set to collide with North American rivals at the Hvezdy v Nehvizdech on Wednesday (25), which will be streamed live from 17:00 CET on the European Athletics' YouTube channel.
European champion Fabbri will face up to the USA's twice world champion and three-times Olympic silver medallist Joe Kovacs, whilst Schilder takes on twice world indoor champion Sarah Mitton of Canada in what promises to be two must-see clashes at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Czechia
Fabbri has opened his season in brilliant style, landing a world lead of 22.50m outdoors in Stellenbosch, South African on 11 February. But he was beaten by Kovacs at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Torun on Sunday (22).
Also in the lineup is Tomas Stanek, Torun 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships gold medallist, who will be looking to impress the home crowd in his season opener.
Mexico’s breakout star last year, world silver medallist Uziel Munoz Galarza, will also be looking to come out on top again after bumping Fabbri into bronze in Tokyo 2025 alongside Jamaican Rajindra Campbell, Paris 2024 Olympics bronze medallist.
Schilder defends against Mitton
Two-time European champion, reigning European indoor champion, and Tokyo 2025 world champion Schilder will be looking to defend her title against a familiar rival in Mitton.
In the last three editions of this event, Mitton has won twice and Schilder once; so with both athletes returning, the rivalry continues as they seek to keep extending the meet record which the Canadian holds with 20.08m.
The Dutchwoman has already thrown 20.49m this season, her second-best throw ever indoors, so is certainly on form to go back-to-back and chase the meet record.
European indoor silver medallist Fanny Roos of Sweden and Czechia’s world U20 silver medallist Martina Mazurova will also take to the circle as they continue their indoor campaigns.
Szczęsny headlines the high jump
Poland’s Mikołaj Szczęsny, silver medallist at the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships, UK champion Joel Clarke-Khan and Mexican champion Jair Portillo form a cosmopolitan entry for the men’s high jump.
Leading the home challenge in the women’s high jump is Justyna Brýdlova, whose personal best is 1.83m.