David Lekuta Rudisha's (KEN) glorious new world record of 1.40.91 in the Men's 800m Final on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 9 August 2012 (© Getty Images)
Zürich, SwitzerlandThe Weltklasse Zürich is a sell out yet again. And it will be a truly spectacular night of athletics for both the crowd at Letzigrund Stadium and viewers at home with as many as 42 Olympic medallists competing in an exciting post-London showdown at the penultimate stop of the 2012 Samsung Diamond League series.
25,000 fans in Zurich will be cheering the athletes in 17 events on 30 August 2012. Some of the line-ups will even outshine the fields of the recent Olympic finals, with the famous squads of strong Jamaican sprinters and African middle distance runners adding to the cast. In London, their number per event had been limited to three. The provisional start lists announce as many as 15 Olympic gold medallists, and even one double Olympic champion, Usain Bolt. Five out of the 42 medallists competing in Zurich will even bring two medals along - Bolt, Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Carmelita Jeter and Vivian Cheruiyot.
Sánchez: A fifth win to celebrate his 35th birthday?
In addition to Bolt (JAM; 100m and 200m) and David Rudisha (KEN; 800m), the meeting’s long list of top stars includes two crowd favourites: Sanya Richards-Ross (USA; 400m) and Félix Sánchez (DOM; 400m h). Richards-Ross won five consecutive Zurich races between 2005 and 2009. This year, however, will mark her very first appearance as an Olympic champion. Sánchez, too, was a serial winner in Zurich, dominating the 400m Hurdles races from to 2001 to 2004. Now, eight years later, the surprise Olympic champion of London is aiming for his fifth triumph at Zürich – on his 35th birthday.
Shot Put finals at Zurich Main Station on 29 August
On the eve of the main meeting at Letzigrund Stadium, the two Samsung Diamond League Shot Put finals will take place in the hall of Zurich Main Station. The start lists for the events are impressive, and include both Olympic champions, Valerie Adams of New Zealand and Pole Tomasz Majewski, as well as current World champion David Storl.
Eliane – a musical highlight to conclude the evening
In addition to the world’s athletics stars, the meeting will feature a very talented musical artist: Eliane, winner of the Swiss casting show 'Das grösste Schweizer Talent’, will be a guest star at the meeting. She will help round off the evening with a sparkling show following the competitions.
Olympic Champions at Weltklasse Zürich 2012 (as at 15 August 2012):
Usain Bolt (JAM; 100m and 200m)
David Rudisha (KEN; 800m)
Félix Sánchez (DOM; 400m h)
Renaud Lavillenie (FRA; pole vault)
Christian Taylor (USA; triple jump)
Ivan Ukhov (RUS; high jump)
Tomasz Majewski (POL; shot put)
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM; 100m)
Allyson Felix (USA; 200m; will run the 100m race in Zurich)
Sanya Richards-Ross (USA; 400m)
Natalya Antyukh (RUS; 400m h; will run the 400m race in Zurich)
Yuliya, Zaripova (RUS; 3000m SC)
Brittney Reese (USA; long jump)
Valerie Adams (NZL; shot put)
Sandra Perkovic (CRO; discus throw)
Organisers for the IAAF
25,000 fans in Zurich will be cheering the athletes in 17 events on 30 August 2012. Some of the line-ups will even outshine the fields of the recent Olympic finals, with the famous squads of strong Jamaican sprinters and African middle distance runners adding to the cast. In London, their number per event had been limited to three. The provisional start lists announce as many as 15 Olympic gold medallists, and even one double Olympic champion, Usain Bolt. Five out of the 42 medallists competing in Zurich will even bring two medals along - Bolt, Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Carmelita Jeter and Vivian Cheruiyot.
Sánchez: A fifth win to celebrate his 35th birthday?
In addition to Bolt (JAM; 100m and 200m) and David Rudisha (KEN; 800m), the meeting’s long list of top stars includes two crowd favourites: Sanya Richards-Ross (USA; 400m) and Félix Sánchez (DOM; 400m h). Richards-Ross won five consecutive Zurich races between 2005 and 2009. This year, however, will mark her very first appearance as an Olympic champion. Sánchez, too, was a serial winner in Zurich, dominating the 400m Hurdles races from to 2001 to 2004. Now, eight years later, the surprise Olympic champion of London is aiming for his fifth triumph at Zürich – on his 35th birthday.
Shot Put finals at Zurich Main Station on 29 August
On the eve of the main meeting at Letzigrund Stadium, the two Samsung Diamond League Shot Put finals will take place in the hall of Zurich Main Station. The start lists for the events are impressive, and include both Olympic champions, Valerie Adams of New Zealand and Pole Tomasz Majewski, as well as current World champion David Storl.
Eliane – a musical highlight to conclude the evening
In addition to the world’s athletics stars, the meeting will feature a very talented musical artist: Eliane, winner of the Swiss casting show 'Das grösste Schweizer Talent’, will be a guest star at the meeting. She will help round off the evening with a sparkling show following the competitions.
Olympic Champions at Weltklasse Zürich 2012 (as at 15 August 2012):
Usain Bolt (JAM; 100m and 200m)
David Rudisha (KEN; 800m)
Félix Sánchez (DOM; 400m h)
Renaud Lavillenie (FRA; pole vault)
Christian Taylor (USA; triple jump)
Ivan Ukhov (RUS; high jump)
Tomasz Majewski (POL; shot put)
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM; 100m)
Allyson Felix (USA; 200m; will run the 100m race in Zurich)
Sanya Richards-Ross (USA; 400m)
Natalya Antyukh (RUS; 400m h; will run the 400m race in Zurich)
Yuliya, Zaripova (RUS; 3000m SC)
Brittney Reese (USA; long jump)
Valerie Adams (NZL; shot put)
Sandra Perkovic (CRO; discus throw)
Organisers for the IAAF
