The 51st edition of Athletissima is set to get underway in front of a packed Pontaise Stadium, with all 13,000 seats expected to be filled. The meeting features no fewer than nine Olympic champions, eleven world champions and fourteen European champions. As the race for qualification to the Diamond League Final in Brussels reaches its climax, many athletes will be chasing not only victory but also stadium records, world-leading marks—and perhaps even a world record. Here’s what to watch.
Women’s Javelin (6:50 p.m.)
With the exception of China’s Zizi Yan, the season’s top throwers are all in Lausanne. The field is remarkably close on paper. Croatia’s Sara Kolak arrives full of confidence after her surprise European title in Birmingham, ten years after her Olympic triumph. However, Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, who has already thrown 67.34m this season, starts as the favourite. Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos (63.83m) and reigning Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan) will also be strong contenders. Swiss fans will be watching Leonie Hügli, just 20 years old, making her Diamond League debut.
Men’s Triple Jump (7:10 p.m.)
One of the highlights of the evening. Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez stunned the athletics world by soaring to 18.15min Birmingham, finishing just 14 centimetres short of Jonathan Edwards’ legendary world record while looking as though he still had more to give. He faces compatriot Andrea Dallavalle, bronze medallist in Birmingham, current Diamond League leaders Jordan Scott (Jamaica) and Yasser Triki (Algeria), as well as experienced Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo (Portugal).
Women’s 400m Hurdles (8:04 p.m.)
The breakout star of the season, Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova, starts as the athlete to beat. Can she challenge Femke Bol’s stadium record of 52.25, now that the Dutch star has moved up to the 800m? American Anna Cockrell, also under 53 seconds this season, and Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton are expected to provide the stiffest competition.
Women’s Pole Vault (8:05 p.m.)
Apart from injured athletes, the very best are all here. Three-time world champion Katie Moon (USA), Olympic champion Nina Kennedy (Australia) and two-time European champion Angelica Moser (Switzerland) are expected to battle for victory, alongside Sandi Morris (USA), who leads the world this season with 4.90m. The Lausanne crowd will hope to lift Moser towards her Swiss record of 4.88m, should conditions allow.
Women’s 200m (8:15 p.m.)
Can Birmingham’s four-time European champion Amy Hunt continue her remarkable run against the American and Jamaican sprint stars? Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the second-fastest woman in history over 200m (21.41), has returned to top form this season with 21.87, while American Kayla White (21.92 in 2026) leads the U.S. challenge. Swiss hopes rest with national champion Fabienne Hoenke and local athlete Léonie Pointet, both recent European silver medallists with Switzerland’s 4x100m relay.
Men’s Javelin (8:22 p.m.)
Former cricketer Rumesh Pathirage has been one of the revelations of the season and tops the world rankings with 92.62m. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (India) will be determined to defeat his South Asian rival in Lausanne, while former Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) and two-time world champion Anderson Peters (Grenada) complete a world-class field.
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase (8:24 p.m.)
Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi will attack the 2026 world-leading mark of 8:51.06, currently held by Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai. In a field of 17 athletes, she will face strong opposition, particularly from Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, instantly recognisable by the headscarf and tights she always races in. Kenya’s Faith Cherotich will also be among the favourites. A time under 8:50 is well within reach.
Men’s 800m (8:40 p.m.)
Expect fireworks. Much like in 2024, when Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya) came within just two-tenths of a second of David Rudisha’s world record, clocking 1:41.11. Canada’s Marco Arop, who pushed him all the way that day, will be seeking revenge. Algeria’s world silver medallist Djamel Sedjati and American Brandon Miller, aiming for Bryce Hoppel’s U.S. record of 1:41.67, add further excitement.
Men’s Long Jump (8:48 p.m.)
After finishing runner-up last year in torrential conditions, Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer hopes to go one better. Standing in his way are defending Lausanne champion Tajay Gayle (Jamaica) and reigning Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (Greece), the only athlete already qualified for the Diamond League Final. Gerson Baldé(Portugal), Wayne Pinnock (Jamaica) and Bozhidar Saraboyukov (Bulgaria) strengthen an outstanding field.
Women’s 100m Hurdles (8:50 p.m.)
American Masai Russell came within 0.02 seconds of Tobi Amusan’s world record earlier this season, running 12.14. She arrives in Lausanne for what promises to be an explosive race against compatriot Alaysha Johnson and world champion Ditaji Kambundji. The Swiss star is returning to full fitness after a recent thigh strain, while European contenders such as Nadine Visser (Netherlands) will also be in the mix.
Men’s 5000m (9:00 p.m.)
Another race packed with quality, making predictions almost impossible. Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew is one of the leading contenders to attack the world-leading mark of 12:47.62. He is one of four athletes in the field who have broken 12:50 this season, alongside Americans Grant Fisher, Graham Blanks and Parker Wolfe. Swiss favourite Dominic Lobalu, winner in Monaco, will enjoy tremendous home support. Will it become a tactical championship-style race or an all-out assault on the clock? No athlete has yet secured qualification for the Diamond League Final in this event.
Women’s 800m (9:32 p.m.)
The marquee event of the evening. Switzerland’s new athletics superstar Audrey Werro, whom many experts believe is capable of breaking Jarmila Kratochvílová’s legendary world record of 1:53.28, returns to face Femke Bol(Netherlands) and world champion Lilian Odira (Kenya). The 22-year-old Werro is unbeaten this season and enjoying extraordinary form. She has selected Dutch pacemaker Myrte van der Schoot, one of the very best in the business, to guide the early pace. Fellow Swiss athletes Valentina Rosamilia and Veronica Vancardo complete the field.
Men’s 200m (9:41 p.m.)
South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, the world leader this season, will look to continue his winning streak against Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) and Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba. Can Courtney Lindsey(USA), Zharnel Hughes (Great Britain) or Switzerland’s Timothé Mumenthaler challenge the African stars?
Additional Events
Men’s 400m Hurdles (7:50 p.m.), Men’s 110m Hurdles (9:23 p.m.) and Women’s 4x100m Relay (9:52 p.m.)
Although not part of the Diamond League programme, these events promise outstanding entertainment. Three-time Olympic champion Rai Benjamin (USA) will make his only 400m hurdles appearance of the season after focusing primarily on the flat 400m. His return over hurdles could produce something special. In the 110m hurdles, newly crowned world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp (12.75) makes one of his rare European appearances, with European champion Jason Joseph (Switzerland) eager to challenge him on home soil. To close the evening, Switzerland’s women’s 4x100m relay team—fresh from winning silver at the European Championships in Birmingham—will look to ignite the home crowd.
