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Where will the sparks fly, here’s an overview of the main storylines, clashes and highlights of the 50th edition of Athletissima, on Tuesday with the City Event in pole vault and Wednesday at La Pontaise.
100 m men: Lyles vs Seville
Olympic champion but sidelined by injury earlier this season, Noah Lyles is on a race against time with just one month to go before the World Championships in Tokyo. The flamboyant American is gaining momentum, but was beaten on Saturday at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia (POL) by the season’s No. 1, Kishane Thompson (JAM), who has since been injured. On Wednesday at La Pontaise, Lyles will face another Jamaican, Oblique Seville. Exactly one month ago in London, Seville got the better of Lyles, winning in 9.86 after a lightning start. Expect some revenge in the air. Will Thompson’s 2025 world-leading time of 9.75 fall? Also lurking is Akani Simbine (RSA, 9.83). The sprinters will also be looking to grab valuable Diamond Race points on the road to the final in Zurich.
Women’s high jump, Mahuchikh against the Australians
Olympic and world champion and world record holder at 2.10 m, Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine has failed to win any of her last three Diamond League competitions. She is eager to regain her supremacy against the formidable Australians Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, both accustomed to clearing 2.00 m and beyond. Mahuchikh’s 2025 world lead at 2.02 could be under threat.
Women’s 800 m, Hodgkinson the favorite, Werro for a surprise
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain recently won in Chorzow, Poland, in 1:54.74, her first race in more than a year after a hamstring injury. She will be pushed to go even faster at La Pontaise in a strong field, with Switzerland’s Audrey Werro aiming for the podium. As an ambassador of the meeting, Werro will be carried by the crowd. Her exceptional recent 400 m time in Fribourg, 51.03, suggests she could run between 1:55 and 1:56, a time that could open many doors for her.
Women’s 100 m hurdles, Russell against the clock and the Jamaicans
The 100 m hurdles is one of the hottest events right now. Several athletes are closing in on the world record of 12.12 held by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, starting with Masai Russell, who clocked an astonishing 12.19 on Saturday in Poland. Amusan will be there too, along with Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent and Europe’s stars Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland and Nadine Visser, both looking to make their mark. Eighth last year, Kambundji’s younger sister can only do better this time.
Men’s 800 m, Wanyonyi against Arop and the clock
This event was absolutely wild last year, with Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya running a breathtaking 1:41.11, just two tenths off the world record set by his compatriot David Rudisha. The Olympic champion was pushed to his limits by world champion Marco Arop. The two will meet again on Wednesday in what promises to be another spectacular clash, with most of the Olympic finalists also in the field.
City Event, pole vault, Karalis takes on the international stars
Emmanouil Karalis is the man on the rise, in every sense of the word. His 6.08 m earlier this month in Greece made him the fourth-highest vaulter in history. On Saturday in Poland, he cleared 6.00 m again, with room to spare and in a style reminiscent of Armand Duplantis, who will be absent from Ouchy on Tuesday due to commitments in Sweden. Karalis will start as favorite against American Sam Kendricks, a regular in Lausanne, and France’s Renaud Lavillenie, back at top level and also competing. Watch out too for Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, who is flirting with the 6.00 m barrier.
Entry to this City Event will be free.