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Let the 51st edition of Athletissima begin, at the Pontaise Stadium, which is expected to be packed to the brim with 13,000 spectators! No fewer than 9 Olympic champions, 11 world champions, and 14 European champions are in the running. The top athletes will be competing for the (many) spots still up for grabs in the Diamond League final in early September in Brussels. In addition to victories, they’ll also be chasing stadium records, world-leading performances (WLPs), and maybe even a world record—who knows? Here’s an overview.
Women’s Javelin (6:50 p.m.):
The season’s best players are all here, with the exception of the Chinese player Zizi Yan. They’re standing pretty close together. The Croatian woman Sara Kolak is riding high after her surprise European title last week in Birmingham, 10 years after her Olympic victory. But the Colombian Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, who has already thrown 67.34 meters this season, is the favorite. The Serbian Adriana Vilagos (63.83 m) and the reigning Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi will challenge her. The audience will be watching the Swiss athlete closely. Leonie Hügli (20) in her first Diamond League appearance.
Men’s Triple Jump (7:10 p.m.):
One of the highlights of the evening. The Italian Andy Diaz Hernandez shook the walls with a jump of 18.15 meters in Birmingham. He came within 14 cm of the legendary world record of Jonathan Edwards, giving the impression that he still has plenty left in the tank. Opposite him, his compatriot Andrea Dallavalle, who won bronze in Birmingham, but especially the top two finishers in the Diamond League, Jordan Scott (JAM) and Yasser Triki (ALG), along with the experienced Pedro Pichardo (POR).
Women’s 400-meter hurdles (8:04 p.m.):
The Slovak player, the big revelation of the season Emma Zapletalova will start with a slight lead. Will she be able to challenge the stadium record of Femke Bol (52.25), has she switched to the 800 meters? The American Anna Cockrell, who also ran under 53 seconds this season, and the Jamaican Rushell Clayton will beher toughest rivals.
Women’s Pole Vault (8:05 p.m.):
With the exception of the injured athletes, everyone is competing in this event. The three-time world champion Katie Moon (USA), the Olympic champion Nina Kennedy (AUS) and the two-time European champion Angelica Moser(SUI) is expected to be in the running for the win, along with Sandi Morris (USA), who cleared 4.90 meters this year—the highest of any athlete. The crowd will try to “carry” her Moser, so that she might, perhaps—if conditions allow—come close to her Swiss record (4.88 m).
Women’s 200 m (8:15 p.m.):
Can Birmingham’s four-time European champion Amy Hunt continue her remarkable run against the American and Jamaican sprint stars? Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the second-fastest woman in history over 200m (21.41), has returned to top form this season with 21.87, while American Kayla White (21.92 in 2026) leads the U.S. challenge. Swiss hopes rest with national champion Fabienne Hoenke and local athlete Léonie Pointet, both recent European silver medallists with Switzerland’s 4x100m relay.
Men’s Javelin (8:22 p.m.):
The former cricket player Rumesh Pathirage has made a splash this season on the major circuit and leads the pack of throwers with a distance of 92.62 meters. His main rival from the Indian subcontinent, the Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (IND) will, of course, be looking to beat him in Lausanne, just like the other top athletes, Keshorn Walcott (TTO) and Anderson Peters, the man from Grenada.
Women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:24 p.m.):
The Bahraini Woman Winfred Yavi will attempt to break the 2026 world best (WB) held by Peruth Chemutai (UGA) in 8’51’’06. In a field of 17 athletes, she will face stiff competition, particularly from the Tunisian runner Marwa Bouzayani, easily recognizable by her headscarf and running tights, which she never takes off. The Kenyan Faith Cherotich will also be in contention for the win. A time under 8:50 cannot be ruled out.
Men’s 800 m (8:40 p.m.):
The audience can expect a “crazy race.” Like in 2024? That year, the Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) came within 0.2 seconds of the world record for David Rudisha (1’40’’91). He was under threat right up to the finish line by the Canadian Marco Arop, who will be looking for revenge this year. Watch out for the Algerian, too. Djamel Sedjati, world runner-up, and Brandon Miller, who’s aiming to break Bryce Hoppel’s U.S. record (1’41’’67)—no less!
Men’s Long (8:48 p.m.):
The Swiss athlete, who finished second last year in hellish weather conditions, Simon Ehammer is determined to win this year, but he’ll be facing the 2025 champion, Tajay Gayle (JAM). And above all, the king of the sport Miltiadis Tentoglou(GRE), the only athlete to have already qualified for the Diamond League final. Gerson Baldé (POR), Wayne Pinnock (JAM) or even Bozhidar Saraboyukov (BUL) joins a top-notch field.
Women’s 100-meter hurdles (8:50 p.m.):
This season, Masai Russell came close to the world record for Tobi Amusan (12.12), who clocked 12.14 early in the season in China. She’ll be competing in Lausanne in what promises to be an explosive race against her compatriot Alaysha Johnson and the world champion Ditaji Kambundji. The Swiss athlete recently suffered a thigh strain but is gaining momentum, just like the other European athletes (notablyNadine Visser of the Netherlands).
Men’s 5,000 m (9:00 p.m.):
One of the highlights, with such intense action that it’s hard to predict the outcome. Birhanu Balew(BRN) is one of the contenders to break the MPM (12’47’’62). He is one of four athletes in the field to have run under 12’50’’ this season, along with the Americans Grant Fisher, Graham Blanks and Parker Wolfe. The Swiss Dominic Lobalu, the winner in Monaco, will have the crowd behind him. Will it be a tactical race or an all-out sprint for the best time? No athlete has yet secured a spot in the DL final in this discipline.
Women’s 800 m (9:32 p.m.):
THE highlight of the evening. The Swiss—and now international—idol Audrey Werro, whom many experts predict will set the world record (1’53’’28 by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983),will be joined by Femke Broeders-Bol (NED) and the world champion Lilian Odira (KEN). Werro (22) is undefeated this year. She’s riding a phenomenal streak. And she’s chosen her pacer, the Dutch athlete Myrte van der Schoot, an expert in this field. Two other Swiss women will round out the field: Valentina Rosamilia and Veronica Vancardo.
Men’s 200 m (9:41 p.m.):
The world leader this season, South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, will look to continue his winning streak against Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) and Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba. Can Courtney Lindsey (USA), Zharnel Hughes (GBR) ans Timothé Mumenthaler (SUI) challenge the African stars?
Men’s 400-meter hurdles (7:50 p.m.), 110-meter hurdles (9:23 p.m.), and women’s 4×100-meter relay (9:52 p.m.); additional events:
These non-long-distance events will nonetheless be of great interest. In the 400-meter hurdles, the three-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion (including relays) Rai Benjamin (USA) will compete in his only race of the year in his specialty, having focused on the 400-meter dash this season. He could very well make a sensational return to the hurdles. In the 110-meter hurdles, the competition promises to be spectacular with the presence of the new world record holder, Ja’Kobe Tharp (12.75). The American will make one of his rare appearances in Europe. The European champion, the Swiss Jason Joseph will have a front-row seat. To wrap up the evening, the Swiss relay team—silver medalists at the European Championships in Birmingham—is set to get the crowd fired up!