After twelve stops on four continents – in Doha (Asia) and Rabat (Africa), for instance, in Eugene (North America), and in Lausanne and Brussels (Europe) – qualified athletes have travelled to Zurich for the final showdown in this year’s Wanda Diamond League season. Ever since 2010, the top-level and most prestigious meeting series in athletics has awarded the most consistent athletes in 16 women’s and 16 men’s events with spots in the series’ final event.
Only athletes who scored enough points during their journey on the “road to Weltklasse Zürich” or who receive a wildcard on the basis of Zurich’s status as a host get to compete in this year’s international programme of events of the meeting. Wildcards are reserved for national athletes. However, Mujinga Kambundji (200m), Chiara Scherrer (3000m SC) and Simon Ehammer (long jump) have all earned a spot to compete in front of their home crowd by collecting points.
Once they have reached the final, however, all athletes start from scratch: Whoever wins will claim the Diamond Trophy and the 30 000 US dollar prize money that comes with it. Anything is possible, right up to the finish line, right through to the final attempt. Six Wanda Diamond League champions were crowned last night. Who will grab the 26 remaining “diamonds”?
