The Shanghai Golden Grand Prix is growing up fast. Only five years after it was first organised it has blossomed quickly into adulthood as one of 14 meetings which can claim historical status as an inaugural member of the Diamond League. 

So fast has been the Shanghai journey that it’s like it has just run 100m in 9.69sec, which is what Tyson Gay did there in 2009 on a breath taking occasion for sprinting. Gay’s performance, and that of his fellow American, Carmelita Jeter, who ran 10.64, was the quickest male/female one-day double in history.

That is how far Shanghai has come in a short time. For many years the Chinese city was better-known for being the home of one athlete – former 110m Hurdles World record holder and Olympic and World champion Liu Xiang - but that is changing, as all international track and field stars have been visiting the Diamond League Shanghai.