A brilliant finish to the women's 20km walk at the Olympics in London last summer brought gold again to Russia, as Yelena Lashmanova beat defending champion Olga Kaniskina.

As the sun set over Doha on Friday, and the opening IAAF Diamond League meeting of the season closed, athletes from Europe could hold their heads high.

It is not often a performance in the opening few weeks of the summer season can have the track and field world watching in awe. But on Friday evening in Doha, Sweden's Abeba Aregawi did just that.

When the Diamond League season opens in Doha this evening, pole vaulter Bj rn Otto will have the chance to show that maybe this will be the year when silver becomes gold.

Just five weeks after running half the race at the London marathon Mo Farah is returning to the English capital - this time to defend a title.

It is early season, which means for some the gradual climb towards hitting the peak at the right time. One athlete is a prime example - French triple jumper Teddy Tamgho.