News19 Aug 2014


From Hussein to Usain, Zurich boasts best athletes in Europe and the world – IAAF Diamond League

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Kariem Hussein on his way to victory in the 400m hurdles at the European Championships (© Getty Images)

Just days after the conclusion of the European Championships, the Letzigrund Stadium is getting ready for yet another athletics highlight on 28 August as Zurich prepares to host the first of two IAAF Diamond League finals.

The Swiss city will once again feature the world’s finest athletes as well as the two new stars of Swiss athletics: Kariem Hussein and Mujinga Kambundji.

The athletes competing in Zurich combine as many as 135 medals from the 2012 Olympic Games, the 2013 world championships, and the 2014 European Championships. As always, fans can expect an action-packed night of world-class athletics as 16 events in the Diamond Race will reach their conclusion at this meeting, the first of two IAAF Diamond League finals.

European champions Dasaolu and Gemili to line up against Bolt

In all events, Europe’s newly-crowned champions will be facing the best athletes of all other continents. Usain Bolt, for instance, will race both European 100m champion James Dasaolu and 200m champion Adam Gemili in the men’s 100m.

National record-holder Mujinga Kambundji and double European champion Dafne Schippers will challenge the sprint queens of the world on the stadium’s new “magic track”. Their race will feature two reigning Olympic champions – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix – and current world leader Tori Bowie.

And in the 4x100m, Kambundji and her team-mates will be aiming to make up for their mishap in the European Championships final. They will be up against European champions Great Britain, Olympic champions USA and world champions Jamaica.

Hussein to run against the best 400m hurdlers in the world

Kariem Hussein will be delighted to get to run in front of his home crowd again after his triumph in the 400m hurdles at the European Championships. The impressive line-up in his race includes world champion Jehue Gordon, Olympic champion Felix Sanchez, and the five fastest 400m hurdlers in the world this year.

Fellow Swiss hurdler Noemi Zbaren, the European junior 100m hurdles champion, will be looking to continue her progress as she lines up against the likes of 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson, world champion Brianna Rollins, Olympic champion Sally Pearson and European champion Tiffany Porter.

The men’s 800m once again has a star-studded field. Olympic champion and world record-holder David Rudisha, world champion Mohammed Aman, Olympic silver medallist and world leader Nijel Amos, two-time world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop, European champion Adam Kszczot and French record-holder Pierre-Ambroise Bosse will treat the crowd to a fantastic two-lap race.

Organisers for the IAAF