Summit of the world’s fastest women
When the fastest women on the planet step in the starting blocks in Zurich, all eyes of the athletics world, and maybe even beyond, are on them. The 100m race on 5 September will be a summit of leading sprinters, including Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Olympic silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson, and it will include a duel of Europe’s sprint queens Dina Asher-Smith and Mujinga Kambundji.
60m world champion Alfred stormed to 100m gold in the Paris rain and then went on to claim silver in the 200m. The athlete from Saint Lucia defeated world champion and runner-up Richards (USA) both surprisingly and convincingly. Richardson, who had won in Zurich in 2023, took the Olympic title in the Olympic 4x100m. Dina Asher-Smith (2nd/GBR) and Mujinga Kambundji (8th/SUI) were both supporting their own relay teams, after claiming the European titles in the 100m (Asher-Smith) and the 200m (Kambundji) in Rome earlier this summer. The Olympic experience of Europe’s sprint queens in Paris, however, were not as comparable.
Kambundji to challenge world indoor championship successor
100m European champion Asher-Smith failed to reach the prestigious 100m final, while two-time 200m European champion Kambundji was able to repeat the feat in the most competitive event of the sport.
Clocking exactly the same time as in Tokyo in 2021, the athlete from Bern was able to shine again, placing sixth among the fastest women in the world. At Letzigrund Stadium, where her road to international fame had begun at the European championships ten years ago, the nine-time medallist at international events hopes to get a similarly good start as in in the final at the Stade de France. She knows, that the “magic track” of Zurich suits her. After all, it is where the crowd favourite managed to set a new national record at the Swiss championships two years ago. On 5 September, she will face the world’s fastest women, including Julien Alfred, who succeeded her as a world indoor champion in 2022.
The three top javelin throwers, representing three continents
Representatives of the old and new world of javelin throw will clash in front of the standing area at Letzigrund Stadium this year. Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada will challenge his Kenyan “predecessor” Julius Yego, and former European champion Julian Weber from Germany.
Peters and Yego strong as ever
Peters has been stronger than in a long time recently. Grenada’s first athletics world champion just surpassed the 90m mark in Lausanne again for the first time in two years. Yego, the experienced, if for his native country of runners, untypical star is back as well. The tree-time African champion, who had studied the javelin throw techniques of European greats before claiming gold at the 2015 world championships in Beijing and an Olympic silver medal in 2016, had struggled with several injuries. He was ready in time for the Olympic Games in Paris and placed fifth, in front of Weber.
Weber chases the 90m mark
The European champion of Munich 2022 and European silver medallist in Rome, is yet to claim a medal at a global championship. He had narrowly missed the podium at the 2021 Olympic Games and the world championships in 2022 and 2023. After placing in the top three at Letzigrund Stadium four times so far, the four-time German champion is determined to win his first Weltklasse Zürich competition. And maybe he can land his javelin beyond the 90m mark for the first time this year.
Lobalu not just running to win
Weltklasse Zürich ambassador Dominic Lobalo’s story is turbulent, but he has now found a new home in Switzerland. After triumphant wins in the Olympic arenas of Stockholm, Rome, and London, it may be time for a first victory dance in front of his home crowd. The exceptional talent based in St. Gallen may have narrowly missed the first final race at Weltklasse Zürich on Sechseläutenplatz in 2022, but he managed to introduce himself as a joyful and successful athlete, who felt right at home and who was able to inspire many people. This spring, the Swiss national record holder was allowed to represent his new country at world and European championships.
A wonderful athletics story continues
The «Swiss Starter» and 5km European record holder used the chance and won a bronze medal in the 5000m and claimed the European title in the 10000m at the Stadio Olympico in Rome. His dream of winning an Olympic medal remains a goal for the future: Lobalu placed fourth in the 5000m final in Paris – and he was happy with his achievement. In Zurich, he would like to share this joy and gratitude with local fans – and maybe complete his magical year with a win in the 3000m.
Which stars are set to compete at Letzigrund Stadium on 5 September? All competitors confirmed for Weltklasse Zürich 2024 are listed here.
