Pole vault winner Renaud Lavillenie in Ostrava (© AFP / Getty Images)
With just 69 days to go until the 37th Athletissima edition takes place on next 23 August, meeting organisers today announced several key additions to the line-up for the 11th meeting of the Samsung Diamond League series.
This year’s meet will take place just 10 days after the end of the Olympic Games, a perfect date which is likely to attract a host of Olympic champions and medal winners. Lots of athlete managers have already been in contact with Meeting Director Jacky Delapierre.
"With all the offers I have been receiving, I could easily set up a mini Olympic Games," said Delapierre. "But I prefer to wait until after the U.S. and Jamaican trials and the other Games qualifying national championships to finalize contracts – I want to offer the best possible line-up.
What can already be confirmed is the presence of pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie. The French World indoor champion has not been defeated this season and won at Athletissima in 2010 and 2011. He will face 2008 Olympic and 2009 World champion Steve Hooker.
In the 100m women, Veronica Campbell-Brown has confirmed her presence. It will only be her second time in Lausanne and spectators will have the pleasure of seeing one of the best sprinters in history. The two-time 200m Olympic champion (2004 and 2008) has also achieved amazing results in the 100m, as she won the World championships in 2007 and was silver medallist in 2005 and 2011.
This year’s Athletissima will also feature the men’s Discus Throw for the first time since 2005 and women’s Shot Put for the first time in ... 21 years. One of the main contenders will be New Zealander Valerie Adams, triple world champion (2007, 2009 and 2011) and 2008 Olympic champion.
Last but not least, Athletissima will once more feature the world’s best sprinters in both the 100m and 200m event. Like last year, a women’s 4x100m UBS Trophy relay race will take place, featuring the Swiss team, which beat the national record in last year’s competition.
Organisers for the IAAF
This year’s meet will take place just 10 days after the end of the Olympic Games, a perfect date which is likely to attract a host of Olympic champions and medal winners. Lots of athlete managers have already been in contact with Meeting Director Jacky Delapierre.
"With all the offers I have been receiving, I could easily set up a mini Olympic Games," said Delapierre. "But I prefer to wait until after the U.S. and Jamaican trials and the other Games qualifying national championships to finalize contracts – I want to offer the best possible line-up.
What can already be confirmed is the presence of pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie. The French World indoor champion has not been defeated this season and won at Athletissima in 2010 and 2011. He will face 2008 Olympic and 2009 World champion Steve Hooker.
In the 100m women, Veronica Campbell-Brown has confirmed her presence. It will only be her second time in Lausanne and spectators will have the pleasure of seeing one of the best sprinters in history. The two-time 200m Olympic champion (2004 and 2008) has also achieved amazing results in the 100m, as she won the World championships in 2007 and was silver medallist in 2005 and 2011.
This year’s Athletissima will also feature the men’s Discus Throw for the first time since 2005 and women’s Shot Put for the first time in ... 21 years. One of the main contenders will be New Zealander Valerie Adams, triple world champion (2007, 2009 and 2011) and 2008 Olympic champion.
Last but not least, Athletissima will once more feature the world’s best sprinters in both the 100m and 200m event. Like last year, a women’s 4x100m UBS Trophy relay race will take place, featuring the Swiss team, which beat the national record in last year’s competition.
Organisers for the IAAF
