Three Olympic champions and Angelica Moser at Zurich Main Station

Three Olympic champions – Katerina Stefanidi (GRE/2016), Katie Moon (USA/2021), and Nina Kennedy (AUS/2024) – compete at Zurich Main Station this year. Stefanidi was celebrating the winners of the test competition at the ticket hall, while her Olympic successors Moon and Kennedy answered some questions at a media conference.

Nina Kennedy, the first Australian pole vault Olympic champion, had defeated all her opponents both at Zurich Main Station in 2023 and on Sechseläutenplatz in 2022. She is determined to do the same for the third time.

“Weltklasse Zürich is my favourite meeting. We are all a little more relaxed after the Olympics. I have not improved my personal best so far this year, so I am still waiting for that,” Kennedy said, referring to her result of last year – 4.91m, an Oceanian indoor record.

The Olympic champion is not focused on the 15-year-old meeting and world record of 5.06m at this stage. “I would like to clear the 5m mark first. Only four women have done that so far.”

Moon looking forward to “phenomenal” atmosphere

According to Katie Moon, who had shared world championship gold with Kennedy in 2023, the performance level in the women’s pole vault is higher than ever, however. In Paris, Moon took silver, defeating Alysha Newman (CAN/3rd) and 17 (!) other finalists.

“I had been very tired after Tokyo. So, I am wondering what I will be able to do after the Olympics this year,” the 2021 Olympic champion admitted. “I prefer to jump at indoor or city events. Zurich Main Station with its phenomenal atmosphere, the fans, and the music is the perfect setting for me.”

Two Swiss athletes to compete in front of home crowd

Zurich’s Angelica Moser would love to make it to the podium after two fourth places in Paris 2024 and Zurich 2023. “It is not about beating Nina or Katie. I compete against myself and the bar. I had some health issues after the Olympic Games. Let’s see how high I can jump with the support of my home crowd,” said Moser, who is a member of the LC Zürich track club.

Pascale Stöcklin, the second Swiss jumper is based in Basel. The Swiss European championship finalist and Olympian has secured a spot in the star-studded line-up for the Wanda Diamond League event.

And who will win tomorrow’s 100m duel at Letzigrund Stadium – Karsten Warholm or Mondo Duplantis? “Pole vaulters have only one answer to this question: Mondo, of course,” Kennedy, Moon, and Moser agreed. They are all fans of their colleague.