When they take off, time stands still for a moment – spectacular and not infrequently record-breaking, they fly: some high, others far. At Weltklasse Zürich 2023, the top stars will once again be there. Athletics fans can look forward to pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, his female counterparts Katie Moon and Sandi Morris, triple jumper Yulimar Rojas and the high jump duo Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi, among others.
Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station on 30 August
But first things first: On Wednesday, 30 August, Weltklasse Zürich will once again make a stop at Zurich Main Station. On the program is the women's pole vault as an event of the Wanda Diamond League. In addition to US Olympic champion Katie Moon, her compatriot and 5-metre jumper Sandi Morris, last year's winner Nina Kennedy (AUS), European champion Wilma Murto (FIN), World Indoor Championships bronze medallist Tina Šutej (SLO) and Zurich local hero Angelica Moser (LCZ) will take off, among others.
Once again, the people of Zurich can expect a unique event: to experience athletics up close, to feel the emotions and to be inspired by the special spirit. Admission to the "airshow" in the Wannerhalle of Zurich Main Station is free for all standing-room spectators. In addition, a limited number of seats will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, 27 June, from 9:00 am. The Weltklasse Zürich Sponsor Village at Zurich Main Station will open its doors on both Tuesday (29 August) and Wednesday (30 August) from noon.
"Weltklasse Zürich is coming to you – under this motto we are very happy to return to Zurich Main Station after four years," says Andreas Hediger, Weltklasse Zürich Co-Meeting Director. "The pole vault as a vertical discipline is perfectly suited for this location; we are already looking forward to the HB premiere as a Diamond League event and to the national competition, which will certainly also attract many onlookers already on Tuesday."
Four Olympic champions take off at Letzigrund Stadium
The "airshow" continues Thursday, 31 August, at the Letzigrund stadium. Because when they are up in the air, it can only be spectacular: Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis (SWE) and triple jumper Yulimas Rojas (VEN) both hold the world record and are the measure of all things in their events.
Whether it will be a fight against their own Letzigrund record or for victory in Zurich will also depend on their competition: In the men's pole vault, in addition to Duplantis, there are four other 6-meter jumpers – Christopher Nilsen, Sam Kendricks, KC Lightfoot (all USA) and Ernest John Obiena (PHI) – among others, who want to spur sky striker "Mondo" on to top performances.
The same goes for the two high jump Olympic champions Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA). The two crowd favourites are just as much a guarantee for an exuberant atmosphere as they are for sporting highs. However, it is not only Loïc Gasch, World Indoor Championships silver medallist from 2022, who wants to have a say in this, but above all also indoor world champion Sanghyeok Woo (KOR).
Spectators will have the best view of the high jump competition in the standing room section, the area where tickets are still available. "More than 90 percent of the tickets are already sold, besides the tickets in the atmospheric standing-room area, we have only isolated seats left in other sectors. We feel euphoria for athletics," states Co-Meeting Director Christoph Joho.
Further top-class names will be announced in the coming weeks.
