More stars announced for Weltklasse Zürich 2024

Botswana’s sprint hero to race the US stars

After taking world championship silver and bronze in the 100m and the 200m, Letsile Tebogo became the first African Olympic champion in the 200m in Paris this year. In Zurich, the new sprint king will be chased by his American colleagues. Kenneth Bednarek and Fred Kerley, in particular, would like to add a Weltklasse Zürich win to their Olympic silver and bronze medals.

Inspired by the first African 200m Olympic triumph he secured at the Stade de France in 19.46 (a new African record), Tebogo will tackle the prestigious race as a favourite. The 21-year-old is Botswana’s first Olympic champion, placed at number five in the 200m all time top list – and the man to beat.

A third “Swiss” win for the Zurich newcomer?

Kenneth Bednarek is all set to challenge Tebogo at Letzigrund Stadium. And fellow-countryman Fred Kerley, who is know for his strong start , will be pushing just as hard to win. After all, he is the Olympic silver (2021) and bronze (2024) medallist and the 2022 world champion in the 100m.

Despite several days of celebrations at home, Botswana’s new national hero will definitely not be inclined to pass the 200m torch on the occasion of his Zurich debut, quite the contrary. He is out to win his third Wanda Diamond League race on Swiss soil, after prevailing at Athletissima Lausanne both in 2023 and 2024.    

A 25th win for Femke Bol in Zurich?

After winning Olympic gold and silver in the 4x400m relay races and taking bronze in the 400m h, Femke Bol left Paris with a complete set of Olympic medals. In her specialty event, the 400m h, the world champion and European record holder is eyeing her 25th win in a Wanda Diamond Lague race at Weltklasse Zürich. It might not be easy: Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell is confirmed to compete as well, and she will fight hard to outrun Bol.

A sensational comeback at Stade de France

Femke Bol fought extremely hard herself as the anchor of the 4x400m mixed team, when she needed to close a 20m gap and catch up with her colleague in the US world record team. Bol prevailed in a sensational manner, securing the gold medal for her team. In her individual event, however, Bol experienced somewhat of a déjà vu: Just like in Tokyo in 2021, the world champion had to make do with a bronze medal.

From “Young Diamond” to “Miss Diamond League”...

While Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell competes at Weltklasse Zürich for the very first time, stepping on the track at Letzigrund Stadium will almost feel like coming home to Femke Bol. In 2019, the Dutch star competed in the Young Diamonds Challenge, and only two years later, she won the Diamond Trophy for the first time. Now, at the age of 24, she has accumulated no less than 24 Wanda Diamond League meeting wins so far.

… and from participating in the UBS Kids Cup to competing in the Weltklasse Zürich international programme of events

Another 24-year-old, Switzerland’s Yasmin Giger, has started her athletics career at Letzigrund Stadium. Giger had won the UBS Kids Cup national finals in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The member of the LC Zürich track club went on to become a European U20 champion and win three bronze medals at international championships. And just like Bol, Giger managed to impress at her second Olympic Games in three events, including the 4x400m mixed and women’s relay races, and the 400m h. After three wins in the Young Diamonds Challenge (2017-2019) and improving her personal best again, the five-time Swiss champion will tackle her first competition in the Weltklasse Zürich international programme of events with confidence.

Which stars are set to compete at Letzigrund Stadium on 5 September? All competitors confirmed for Weltklasse Zürich 2024 are listed here.