15 Olympic Champions at Weltklasse Zürich 2012

As many as 42 Olympic medallists will be competing in an exciting post-London showdown. Weltklasse Zürich, true to its reputation, will again stage competitions at Olympic levels.

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 runners adding to the cast of Weltklasse Zürich. 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 bring even two medals along (Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Carmelita Jeter und Vivian Cheruiyot).

Félix Sánchez: A fifth win to celebrate his 35th birthday?
In addition to Usain Bolt (JAM; 100m or 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 h races from to 2001 to 2004. Now, eight years later, the surprise Olympic Champion of London is aiming at his fifth triumph at Weltklasse Zürich – on his 35th birthday.

Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station on 29 August
On the eve of the 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 and Thomas 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, Weltklasse Zürich 2012 will feature a very talented music 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)

Please note: Provisional start lists and timetable will be published next week.