Usain Bolt meets his fans at the 2012 Diamond League meeting in Zurich (© Weltklasse Zürich)
As with every year, the first final of the 2014 IAAF Diamond League series will boast star-studded fields: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, David Rudisha and Usain Bolt are some of the top stars who have confirmed their appearance in the Letzigrund Stadium this year at the Weltklasse Zürich on 28 August, organisers announced on Monday (21).
Bolt took to his social media platforms to confirm what he had already announced in May: the world record-holder, Olympic champion, and world champion will be part of the Weltklasse Zurich cast.
Despite his late start to the 2014 outdoor season, the Jamaican sprint superstar will run the 100m on the brand-new ‘magic track’ at Letzigrund Stadium this year.
In his seventh appearance at the prestigious meeting, Bolt will be challenged by several finalists from this year's European Championships Zurich.
“Our meeting will be held only 11 days after Zurich 2014. The best Europeans will return to Letzigrund Stadium to compete against the best athletes of the rest of the world,” explained Andreas Hediger, who is responsible for inviting the athletes to Weltklasse Zurich.
One month prior to the meeting, the provisional start lists already indicate that Weltklasse Zurich will be living up to its reputation of signing the best athletes of the world once again.
“We will of course wait and see what will happen during the European Championships,” added Andreas Hediger.
However, some European stars, including Croatian discus thrower Sandra Perkovic, French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre, and his compatriot and newly-minted French 800m record-holder Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, have already accepted their Weltklasse Zurich invitation.
The men’s 800m will definitely be one of the Letzigrund highlights this year.
Bosse, a favourite for the European Championships, will face Kenya’s world record-holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha, Botswana’s world junior record-holder and current world leader Nijel Amos, as well as Kenya’s two-time 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop.
In the women’s 100m, Jamaica’s Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will race USA's Tori Bowie, the current world leader following her 10.80 run in Monaco on Friday. Fraser-Pryce will also lead Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team, who will compete against the young Swiss squad for the Zurich Trophy.
The women’s 100m hurdles is a perfect example about the Weltklasse Zurich’s ability to bring together high calibre fields.
The fastest seven hurdlers, including 2014 world leader Dawn Harper-Nelson, 2013 world champion Brianna Rollins, experienced US star Lolo Jones, Olympic champion Sally Pearson, as well as French record-holder Cindy Billaud have already been signed for the race.
The women’s pole vault will feature Brazil’s world leader and former world champion Fabiana Murer, USA’s Olympic champion Jennifer Suhr and Cuba’s world indoor champion Yarisley Silva, making it one of the field event highlights Weltklasse Zurich.
Organisers for the IAAF
2014 IAAF Diamond League calendar
Doha, QAT – 9 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
Eugene, USA – 31 May
Rome, ITA – 5 Jun
Oslo, NOR – 11 Jun
New York, USA – 14 Jun
Lausanne, SUI – 3 Jul
Paris, FRA – 5 Jul
Glasgow, GBR – 11-12 Jul
Monaco, MON – 18 Jul
Stockholm, SWE – 21 Aug
Birmingham, GBR – 24 Aug
Zurich, SUI – 28 Aug
Brussels, BEL – 5 Sep
