Weltklasse Zurich Preview: Diamond League Final Brings the World’s Best to the Swiss Stage
Zurich is set to host the grand finale of the Wanda Diamond League on August 27–28, 2025, with two spectacular evenings of athletics at the iconic Weltklasse Zurich. The festival begins on Wednesday at Sechseläutenplatz, where the city’s opera square will be transformed into a dramatic open-air arena. Pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis and high jump world record-holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh headline the action before the competition shifts to the historic Letzigrund Stadium for Thursday’s packed program of 26 finals. Fans can look forward to marquee showdowns, including Noah Lyles vs. Letsile Tebogo in the men’s 200m, Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the men’s 800m, Femke Bol in the women’s 400m hurdles, and Valarie Allman chasing a fifth straight Diamond Trophy in the discus. From field event duels to sprint battles, the 2025 edition promises another unforgettable climax to the athletics season.
Day 1 Preview – Sechseläutenplatz
Men’s Pole Vault
Armand Duplantis begins his quest for a fifth consecutive Diamond League crown on Zurich’s opera square stage. The Swedish superstar has already delivered another historic season: Olympic gold in Paris with a 6.25m world record, followed by marks of 6.26m in Silesia, 6.28m in Stockholm, and 6.29m in Budapest. Duplantis has dominated Zurich in recent years, winning four straight titles, but this will be his first competition at Sechseläutenplatz.
His rivals are formidable. Emmanouil Karalis, the Olympic bronze medalist from Greece, cleared a national record of 6.08m this summer, placing him fourth on the all-time list. Kurtis Marschall (AUS) brings consistency after clearing 5.90m+ at multiple Diamond League stops. Sam Kendricks, Olympic silver medallist in Paris, and veteran Renaud Lavillenie will also feature, alongside Dutchman Menno Vloon (5.92m SB).
Women’s High Jump
All eyes turn to Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Olympic champion and world record-holder, who cleared 2.10m in Paris last year. The Ukrainian has three Diamond Trophies to her name and remains the benchmark of the event.
Challenging her will be Australia’s formidable duo: Nicola Olyslagers, Olympic silver medallist and world indoor champion, and Eleanor Patterson, the 2022 world champion. Britain’s Morgan Lake (1.96m in London) and Germany’s Christina Honsel (PB 2.00m) add depth, while former world silver medallist Yuliya Levchenko is also in form.
Men’s Shot Put
Zurich has always been special for Joe Kovacs, who produced a lifetime best of 23.23m here in 2022. The American leads the standings after a season highlighted by 22.48m in Eugene. He’ll be eager to reclaim the crown after missing the US team for Tokyo 2025.
Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, last year’s Diamond Trophy winner, has set the world lead at 22.82m and consistently thrown beyond 22m. Fellow American Payton Otterdahl (22.35m SB, wins in Rabat and Chorzów) is another serious contender, alongside compatriot Adrian Piperi (22.09m SB). The field also includes Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell (22.15m), New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, and Jamaica’s Campbell, making this one of the strongest events of the night.
Men’s Long Jump
Olympic and world champion Miltiadis Tentoglou leads the field as he targets a second Diamond Trophy, having already leapt a world lead of 8.46m this season.
He faces a deep lineup: Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, Italy’s rising star Mattia Furlani (8.30m indoors, 8.26m outdoors), Swiss multi-eventer Simon Ehammer (8.34m SB), Australia's Liam Adcock (8.34m PB), and Jamaica’s Carey McLeod, world indoor bronze medallist. Expect fireworks with multiple 8.30m jumpers in the field.
Women’s Shot Put
Two-time world champion Chase Jackson headlines after wins in Keqiao, Eugene (20.94m), and Brussels (20.90m). She’ll meet strong opposition from Canada’s Sarah Mitton, the reigning world indoor champion, and Dutch star Jessica Schilder, who set a national record of 20.69m indoors.
The Americans are stacked, with Maggie Ewen, NCAA champion Jaida Ross, and seasoned competitor Fanny Roos also in the field.
Women’s Pole Vault
Traditionally staged at Zurich’s main train station, the women’s pole vault will instead light up Sechseläutenplatz due to weather concerns.
Katie Moon, Olympic champion and two-time world champion, has enjoyed a strong season with wins in Rabat, Paris, and Brussels. Swiss fans will roar for Angelica Moser, the European champion (4.80m SB), while American Sandi Morris (Rome winner at 4.80m, Stockholm 4.82m) remains a threat. Slovenia’s Tina Šutej, Italy’s Roberta Bruni, and American Emily Grove round out a quality lineup.
Day 2 – Letzigrund Stadium
Men’s 200 Metres
Noah Lyles will chase a record sixth Diamond Trophy in his signature event. The Olympic 100m champion and six-time world gold medallist remains unbeaten at Weltklasse Zurich, where he set the meeting record of 19.52 in 2022. This season he’s run a world lead of 19.63 and a 9.90 in Chorzów, showing his speed across both sprints.
Lyles faces fierce opposition from Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, who clocked an African record 19.46 to win in Paris and claimed last year’s Zurich title in 19.55. Dominican star Alexander Ogando, US sprinter Robert Gregory (19.80 PB), and Cuba’s Reyner Mena (20.05 SB) add depth, alongside Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, NCAA champion Udodi Onwuzurike, and Kyree King of the USA.
Women’s 100 Metres
Olympic champion Julien Alfred returns from injury to defend her Diamond League lead after wins in Oslo, Stockholm, and Monaco. She claimed her country’s first Olympic sprint gold in Paris with 10.72.
Veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith remains a threat, alongside Jamaican champion Tia Clayton (10.81), European champion Dina Asher-Smith, and rising US sprinters Jacious Sears (10.85 PB) and Maia McCoy. Oceanian record-holder Zoe Hobbs, Luxembourg’s Patricia Van der Weken, and Swiss champion Salomé Lora complete a stellar field.
Women’s 200 Metres
Defending champion Brittany Brown (22.20 last year) faces one of the deepest fields of the season. Anavia Battle runner up at the USA championships, British champion Dina Asher-Smith, and compatriot Amy Hunt are all in contention, while NCAA star McKenzie Long brings fresh firepower after her 21.83 PB.
Veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith doubles up, while the line-up also includes Jessika Gbai, world relay champion Jenna Prandini, and Olympic finalist Amy Hunt.
Men’s 800 Metres
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi has been nearly unstoppable, clocking a world lead of 1:41.11 and winning four Diamond League races this summer. The 21-year-old Kenyan seeks his third straight Diamond Trophy.
The challengers include US indoor champion Josh Hoey, Spaniard Mohamed Attaoui (1:42.73 SB), North American record-holder Bryce Hoppel, world champion Marco Arop, Britain’s Max Burgin, and Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela. Expect a tactical yet blistering race.
Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles
The men’s sprint hurdles promise fireworks with several sub-13 performers in the mix. Cordell Tinch has been the standout this season, notching victories in Xiamen (13.06), Keqiao (world lead 12.87), Chorzów (13.03), and Lausanne (12.87), while also finishing runner-up in Rome and Monaco (both 13.14). The US hurdler also placed second at the US Championships in Eugene in 13.03.
Trey Cunningham, world silver medallist in 2022, has shown sharp form with back-to-back wins in Paris (13.00, equalling his PB) and Monaco (13.09). Dylan Beard impressed with a runner-up finish in Paris, lowering his PB to 13.02.
Swiss record-holder Jason Joseph thrilled home fans with victory in Rome (13.14) over Tinch in a photo-finish and followed with third in Paris (13.07, equalling his national mark), then repeated 13.07 in Lucerne. Japan’s Rachid Muratake also enters the fray after breaking the national record with 12.92 in Fukui before finishing fourth in Paris in 13.08.
Women’s 100 Metres Hurdles
The women’s sprint hurdles field is equally world-class. US star Grace Stark leads the Diamond League standings with 35 points after back-to-back wins in Stockholm (12.33) and Paris (PB 12.21). Last year she claimed the NCAA title (12.47) and placed fifth in the Paris Olympic final (12.43).
Dutch record-holder Nadine Visser is also in top form, clocking 12.28 in Chorzów and winning in Lausanne (12.45) despite rain. European indoor champion Ditaji Kambundji continues her rise, having set the continental indoor record of 7.67 in Apeldoorn and outdoors clocked 12.43 in Monaco, followed by three consecutive wins in Lucerne (12.49), Berlin (12.52), and Bern (12.66). She added third place in Lausanne (12.54).
World record-holder Tobi Amusan (12.12) brings big-meet pedigree as the 2022 world champion and back-to-back Diamond League winner in 2021 and 2022. She has shown solid form this season with runner-up finishes in Paris (12.24) and Eugene (12.38) and third in Chorzów (12.38).
The Jamaican charge is led by record-holder Ackera Nugent, who won at the Prefontaine Classic in 12.32 and finished third in Paris (12.30) and fourth in Lausanne (12.57). Veteran compatriot Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, also remains a major threat. She triumphed in Zurich last year (12.54) and opened this season with victory in Xiamen (12.53).
Women’s 400m Hurdles
World record-chasing Femke Bol is unbeaten in her last 28 Diamond League races and has added five wins this season, including a world lead of 51.91. She chases her fifth Diamond Trophy after titles in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Rivals include Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight, Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalová, Belgium’s Noemi Van de Broeck, Italy’s Ayomide Folorunso, and Norway’s Amalie Iuel.
Men’s 400m Hurdles
Two-time Olympic champion Karsten Warholm has enjoyed another spectacular season, setting a world lead and Diamond League record of 46.28 in Chorzów. The Norwegian has twice won the Diamond Trophy in Zurich and will be the clear favorite.
His main challengers are Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, and the US duo of Trevor Bassitt and CJ Allen.
Men’s 100 Metres
South Africa’s Akani Simbine, fresh off a national record of 9.82 in Paris, leads the sprint showdown. He’ll face US stars Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman, Jamaican finisher Ackeem Blake, and Europe’s rising talents Jeremiah Azu and Brandon Hicklin.
Women’s 400 Metres
Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino defends her crown after victories in Paris, Monaco, and Chorzów this year. She faces Norway’s Henriette Jæger, Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who set a national record of 48.90 last season.
Men’s 400 Metres
American Jacory Patterson is chasing his first Diamond League title after wins in Rabat and Brussels. Olympic bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga, Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori, and Belgian European champion Alexander Doom provide strong opposition.
Women’s 800 Metres
Swiss fans will roar for Audrey Werro, who set a national record of 1:56.39 this summer. She faces Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma, South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, and Britain’s Georgia Bell, who won Olympic 1500m bronze in Paris.
Women’s 1500 Metres
Ethiopia’s Nelly Chepchirchir (3:57.02 SB) and Australia’s Jessica Hull, Olympic silver medallist and Oceanian record-holder, headline a loaded field. France’s Agathe Guillemot, Ireland’s Sarah Healy, and Italy’s Marta Zenoni are also in contention.
Men’s 1500 Metres
Teen sensation Phanuel Koech of Kenya (world U20 record 3:27.72) takes on Dutch prodigy Niels Laros and veteran Timothy Cheruiyot, who is chasing his sixth Diamond Trophy. The field also includes France’s Azzedine Habz and Portugal’s Isaac Nader.
Men’s 3000 Metres
Olympic double bronze medallist Grant Fisher faces Ethiopia’s rising star Biniam Mehary (12:45 5k, 26:43 10k) and Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, who broke the European 5000m record this summer. Local hopes rest on Dominic Lobalu.
Steeplechase
Kenya’s Edmund Serem, still just 17, looks for his first Diamond Trophy in the men’s race, while the women’s event features Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich against world champion Norah Jeruto and Germany’s Gesa Krause.
Throws & Jumps
Women’s Discus: Double Olympic champion Valarie Allman (71.45m SB) seeks her fifth straight title against Cuba’s Yaimé Pérez and Croatian great Sandra Perković.
Men’s Discus: World record-holder Mykolas Alekna battles Slovenia’s Kristjan Čeh and Sweden’s Daniel Ståhl in a heavyweight clash.
Women’s Long Jump: Olympic silver medallist Malaika Mihambo faces Italy’s Larissa Iapichino and US star Claire Bryant.
Women’s Triple Jump: Olympic champion Thea Lafond takes on Cuba’s Leyanis Pérez Hernández (14.93m WL).
Men’s Triple Jump: Jamaica’s Jordan Scott meets Olympic bronze medallist Andy Díaz and reigning world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango.
Men’s High Jump: Olympic champion Hamish Kerr returns to battle Shelby McEwen and Oleg Doroshchuk.
Men’s Javelin: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra faces Germany’s Julian Weber (91.06m PB) and Grenada’s Anderson Peters.
Women’s Javelin: Olympic and world champion Haruka Kitaguchi leads the field against Serbia’s Adriana Vilagoš and Greece’s Elina Tzengko.
