Athletissima’s line-up is taking shape. The Lausanne meeting (part of the Wanda Diamond League) taking place on the 26th of August announced, three of the biggest athletes of the moment, the participation of Armand Duplantis in the pole vault, Jakob Ingebrigtsen over 3’000m and Mutaz Barshim in the high jump.
Duplantis has promised to make the Lausanne meeting a priority following the Tokyo Olympics. The Swedish pole vaulter and world record holder (6.18m) has fond memories of his last appearance (in 2020) in the Olympic Capital, where he jumped 6.07m to win an enthralling duel against double World Champion Sam Kendricks (6m02) during a competition organised in the city centre.
This year, the competition will once again take place in the stadium (the Pontaise), where "Mondo" will no doubt be keen to tackle, at the very least, the stadium record held by the Pole, Piotr Lisek (6:01).
The younger Norvegian, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, (20 years old) will be the highlight over the 3’000m which could well see Mohammed Mourhit's European record fall (7’26’62). The youngest of the Ingebrigtsen siblings already holds the continental records in the 1’500m and 5’000m (12'48''45), which he has just stolen from Mourhit during his impressive victory at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Florence. His objective is of course not Europe, but world domination, and he will be aiming for the Olympic title over 1’500m in Tokyo this summer. In Lausanne, the Norwegian will have the support of his brother Filip, also in the same race, and the pace-setting system using Wavelight technology which will be used for the first time at Athletissima.
Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) will be the highlight at the high jump, being held for the first time in the city centre at the "City Event", the day before the actual meeting. The double world champion, and second-best performer of all time (2m43), will take the field with the best in the discipline which will also feature the recent Swiss record holder, Loïc Gasch (2m33).
The women's high jump will provide another opportunity to continue progressing for the new star of Swiss athletics, Salome Lang, who has just broken the Swiss record with a jump of 1m97, qualifying for Tokyo. The Swiss record holder in the 110m hurdles, Jason Joseph, has also confirmed his participation.
