A packed field has been assembled for Diamond League meet in Zurich, the penultimate event of the Diamond League calendar.
A staggering 14 Olympic champions are set to be in action, with a further 26 silver and bronze medalists and eight current world champions also set to appear next Thursday.
Thompson headlines stacked Women’s 200m field
One of the stars of the games was Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, who became the first women since Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988 to complete the sprint double.
The Jamaican will race in Zurich, but will not be a clear favorite in such a stacked field. Those racing against her include Dafne Schippers, the current world champion and Rio 2016 silver medalist, two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix, the London 2012 champion in this event who picked up two golds and a silver medal in Rio.
American Olympic champions feature
As well as Felix, four other Americans who struck gold last week will also be looking to end their season on a high.
Kerron Clement, who finally won the 400-meter hurdles gold, will be in action, as will Tianna Bartoletta, who won two gold medals in Rio, and will be in action in the long jump. Meanwhile, Christian Taylor, who successfully defended his triple jump title, will also be in action at Weltklasse.
Furthermore, Ryan Crouser, who set an Olympic Record to take gold in the Shot Put, will battle against fellow American Joe Kovacs, the silver medalist in Rio, for the Diamond League title.
In the field events
Some of the most exciting events at the Olympic Games took place in the field events, and alongside Crouser, Bartoletta, and Taylor.
Pole vault champions, Thiago Braz Da Silva and Ekaterini Stefanidi, will both be in action. Both surprise champions in Rio, Stefanidi has virtually secured the Diamond League title whilst Da Silva will be up against Renaud Lavillenie; the Frenchman is trying to secure his seventh straight Diamond League title, and make up for his disappointing (and controversial) Olympics. Ruth Beitia, who won the high jump in Rio, despite briefly retiring after London, will also be in action.
Discus thrower Sandra Perkovic will be looking to extend her dominance over the event, whilst Thomas Roehler will be looking to end his season on a high by winning the Javelin.
On the track
Some more track champions will race in Zurich, with a chance of two potential world record attempts.
Omar Mcleod is more used to tackling the hurdles, having taken the 110-meter hurdle title, though he’ll be taking on the 100-meters, whilst Faith Kipyegon will be in action in the 1500-meters after winning gold just last week.
Two women who could potentially try to break world records are Ruth Jebet and Caster Semenya. Having narrowly missed out on breaking the 3000-meter steeplechase record in Rio, Jebet could be aiming to finally break it, whilst Semenya has been running quickly all year and seemingly has the pace to threaten the oldest world record in athletics.
