Nadzeya Ostapchuk puts 20.78m to take the victory in Paris (© Errol Anderson)
One day prior to the traditional Weltklasse Zürich meeting - Samsung Diamond League at Letzigrund Stadium, the world’s best shot putters will compete at RailCity/Zürich Main Station. The women’s competition will represent the very first final event in the history of the Samsung Diamond League, while the male putters will have their finale in Brussels just over one week later.
The last men’s Shot Put at Letzigrund Stadium dates back to 2000, while their female colleagues performed have only performed there once in 80 years - in 1985.
“The Shot Put is an aesthetic discipline, offering exciting competitions. Unfortunately, it tends not to get the attention it deserves when staged at its traditional stadium location, simply because the action is so far away from the spectators,” said Patrick K. Magyar, Meeting Director of Weltklasse Zürich. “This event allows us to present an extraordinary, high-level athletics show at the most frequented location of Switzerland.”
WOMEN
Valerie Adams-Vili is the reigning queen of the women’s Shot Put. However, the World and Olympic champion from New Zealand has yet to win against Nadezha Ostapchuk (BLR) this year. The World Indoor and European outdoor champion has defeated Adams-Vili in all of their encounters so far.
Leading by six points, Nadezhda Ostapchuk is a clear favourite for the Diamond Race this year. A third place in Zürich would earn the Belarussian an historic first Diamond Race triumph. Adams-Vili, winner of the Diamond League meeting of New York, however, still has a slight chance to snatch the diamond in the final event of the new series.
The competition at RailCity will represent a tough challenge for both athletes: In her Monaco competition one month ago, Adams-Vili lost to her opponent by a mere three centimetres. In Zürich, she will therefore give it her all to be on top of the podium.
Both of them will face strong competition in this season final from amoing others Natalya Khoronenko-Mikhnevich (BLR) the Olympic and European Championship silver medallist, and Nadine Kleinert of Germany, the World silver medallist.
MEN
While the women’s competition will start at 5pm (CET), the men’s event is scheduled for 6.45pm. The outcome of the men’s competition is hard to predict: World leader Christian Cantwell (USA), the World champion indoors and out, had to content himself with a third place in London last Saturday. In Zürich, he will face Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski (POL), Reese Hoffa (USA), winner in London, and World and European Championship bronze medallist Ralf Bartels (GER).
Samsung Diamond League
