Valerie Adams of New Zealand celebrates winning the women's shot put final (© Getty Images)
TodayWeltklasse Zürich - Samsung Diamond League will get under way with a number of pre-meeting events: At noon, the exhibition Experience World-Class Performances will be opened at Zurich Main Station. In the evening, stars will meet with kids for eleven fun training sessions at locations around the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Weltklasse Zürich up close: For two days, passers-by will have an opportunity to experience the fascination of athletics at Zurich Main Station. An exhibition, opened on Tuesday (noon) in the presence of Swiss hurdler Lisa Urech and Shot Put World champion Valerie Adams (NZL), will provide an insight into the world of the multifaceted sport. Visitors will be lifted up to Pole Vault World record heights (men’s record: 6.14; women’s record: 5.06m), or they will be invited to test their running skills on a treadmill – at the average pace of a long distance runner in a race.
The highlight of Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station will be the two official Samsung Diamond League Shot Put competitions. They will be staged in a temporary arena in the majestic hall of the station on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The same arena will also host an all-comers Shot Put event starting Wednesday at noon (end of competition 2.30 p.m.).
Jugend trainiert mit Weltklasse Zürich: a very special kids’ event – for youngsters and stars
For the first time, the traditional kids’ event will be held at as many as eleven venues. In Zurich (Fluntern sports facility), Swiss record holder Lisa Urech (100mH) will be one of the popular star coaches. At the same time, many international stars will travel – most of them by helicopter - to ten locations around the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Both children and stars are looking forward to the exciting get-together. “In Stockholm, training sessions with kids are quite commonplace,“ Carolina Klüft, former heptathlon queen and Daegu finalist in the long jump, explained. She will be meeting with her group of kids in Berne. “I really like to work with kids. I have organized my own training camps for children for the past five years.”
The international stars will be supported by local athletes. “I am happy to be part of the event. It’s just great to work with children, motivate them, and show them what athletics is all about,” said Jacqueline Gasser, a sprinter from Chur. “Meeting all the international stars, and working with them is of course exciting, as well. So, I am really looking forward to Tuesday.” Gasser will return from Korea on Tuesday morning, and will then rush to Chur to be there in time for the event.
Jugend trainiert mit Weltklasse Zürich - Locations and Coaches
Aarau:
• Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS/PV): world record holder, Olympic champion, former world champion.
• Melaine Walker (JAM/400mh): Olympic champion, former world champion, silver medallist in Daegu.
• Anna Katharina Schmid (ST Bern/PV): 4th U23-ECH 2011, Swiss record holder U23 (4.45m), Swiss champion, world championship participant in Daegu.
• Jan Hochstrasser (BTV Aarau/800m): multiple national championship medallist, member of the Swiss Americaine relay team (2010 Weltklasse Zürich winner).
Basel:
• Silke Spiegelburg (GER/PV): ECH silver medallist in Barcelona in 2010, world championship finalist in Daegu.
• Asafa Powell (JAM/100m): former world record holder, world leader 2011.
• Alex Wilson (OB Basel/200m): Swiss champion 2011, finalist at U23 ECH, world championship participant in Daegu.
• Marquis Richards (TV Arlesheim/PV): finalist U20 world championships, finalist U20 European championships.
Bern:
• Carolina Klüft (SWE/LJ): former Olympic Champion, world and European champion, European record holder heptathlon, fifth at world championships in Daegu (LJ).
• Fabiana Murer (BRA/PV): world champion in Daegu.
• Nicole Büchler (ST Bern/PV): national record holder (4.50m), multiple national champion, world championship participant in Daegu.
• Marc Schneeberger (TV Länggasse/200m): multiple Swiss champion, Swiss record holder 4x100m, world championship participant in Daegu.
Biberist:
• Walter Dix (USA/sprint): US champion 100m and 200m, silver medallist 100m and 200m in Daegu.
• Jesse Williams (USA/HJ): world champion in Daegu.
• Andrina Schläpfer (Biberist aktiv!/800m): 3rd Olympic Youth Games 2010 1000m, national record holder U20 1000 m.
• Ellen Sprunger (COVA Nyon/multi discipline, sprint): member of the Swiss 4x100m relay team in Daegu, multiple Swiss champion (multi discipline and sprint events).
Chur:
• Allyson Felix (USA/200m/400m): triple 200m world champion, silver medallist Olympic Games, Olympic champion with the US relay team. In Daegu, Allyson won four medals (4x100m gold, 4x400m gold, 400m silver, 200m bronze).
• Dwight Philipps (USA/LJ): Olympic champion 2004, quadruple outdoor world champion (incl. Daegu).
• Jacqueline Gasser (BTV Chur/200m): national champion, national record holder 4x100m, semi-finalist U23 ECH, world championship participant in Daegu.
• Irene Pusterla (Vigor Ligornetto/LJ): national record holder, multiple national champion, 3rd at Weltklasse Zürich 2010, world championship participant in Daegu.
Frauenfeld:
• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM/100m): Olympic and world champion 2009.
• Christina Obergföll (GER/JT): double silver medallist world championships, silver medallist European championships 2010.
• Sabine Fischer (LC Rapperswil-Jona/5000m): multiple national champion, 9th ECH 2010 5000m.
• Linda Züblin (LAR Bischofszell/heptathlon): multiple national champion, participant Olympic Games, world and European championships.
Hochdorf:
• Dayron Robles (CUB/110mh): world record holder and Olympic champion.
• Carmelita Jeter (USA/100m): world champion 100m und 4x100m in Daegu, silver medallist 200m in Daegu.
• Reto Amaru Schenkel (LC Zürich/100m/200m): second fastest Swiss sprinter of all times 100m (10.19), national record holder 4x100 m, semi-finalist 200m in Daegu.
• Tobias Furer (LK Zug/110mh): Swiss indoor champion 60m h, indoor 2011 ECH participant.
Langenthal:
• Sally Pearson (AUS/100mh): world champion in Daegu, placed 4th all-time list (12.28).
• Barbora Spotakova (CZE/JT): world record holder, Olympic Champion and former world champion, silver medallist in Daegu.
• Mujinga Kambundji (ST Bern/100m/200m): national champion 100m, finalist U20 ECH 100m and 200m, national record holder 4x100m.
• Nathalie Meier (TV Fraubrunnen/JT): national record holder, finalist U20 ECH.
Schaffhausen:
• Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN/800m): world champion 2007, bronze medallist in Daegu.
• Donald Thomas (BAH/HJ): world champion 2007, finalist in Daegu.
• Marco Kern (LC Schaffhausen/1500m): participant Team-ECH 2011.
• Alexander Martinez (LC Zürich/TJ): national record holder, world championship finalist in 2007, European championship finalist in 2006, multiple national champion.
Teufen:
• David Oliver (USA/110mh): Winner Weltklasse Zürich and overall winner Diamond League 2010, placed 4th in Daegu.
• 2nd international athlete tbd
• Andreas Kundert (LC Brühl/110mh): national record holder, multiple national champion, participant in Daegu.
• Yves Zellweger (KTV Altstätten/LJ): Swiss champion 2010.
Zurich:
• Lisa Urech (SK Langnau/100mh): national record holder, silver medallist U23 ECH 2011, finalist 2010 ECH, 9th in Daegu.
• Robert Harting (GER/DT): double world champion, silver medallist European championships.
• Valerie Adams (NZL/SP): triple world champion, Olympic champion.
• Asbel Kiprop (KEN/1500m): world champion.
• Nesta Carter (JAM/100m): world champion and world record holder 4x10m relay.
• Michael Frater (JAM/100m): world champion and world record holder 4x10m relay.
• …further top athletes to be announced.
Samsung Diamond League
