After a break that lasted a month due to the Commonwealth Games, the Diamond League track and field circuit restarted today with a unique men’s pole vault event in the center of Lausanne, Switzerland. Armand Duplantis from Sweden, a renowned athlete with consecutive Olympic gold medals and three consecutive world championships, secured victory with a meet-record vault of 6.21 meters. Despite his attempts at reaching 6.32m to break his own world record by one centimeter, he fell short.
The resumption of the Diamond League marked the beginning of the final phase of the global track and field season, which will culminate in the Diamond League Final and the newly introduced World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
Here’s a preview of the upcoming events:
The focus now shifts to the remaining three regular-season meets before the crowning of Diamond League champions at the Final in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Notably, Lausanne will host a major event at Stade Olympique de la Pontaise on Friday, headlined by an exciting men’s 800m race featuring the medallists from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The women’s 200m races will showcase top athletes such as Letsile Tebogo, Shericka Jackson, and Amy Hunt.
On Saturday, action moves to Poland’s Silesian Stadium for two days of competition, including the women’s shot put event featuring top contenders like Sarah Mitton and Jessica Schilder.
Sunday’s lineup includes the men’s 100m race, where notable athletes like Andre De Grasse and Kenny Bednarek will compete. Additionally, Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen will participate in the men’s 1,500m event.
The women’s 100m race is generating significant interest, with top sprinters like Julien Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson set to compete. The event promises to be a highlight of the Diamond League circuit.
The Diamond League Final in Brussels will see athletes compete for the coveted Diamond Trophy and substantial cash prizes. The qualification criteria vary for different events, with top performers from the season earning spots in the Final.
Following the Diamond League Final, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest from September 11-13 will conclude the track and field season. This exclusive event offers a substantial prize pool and features a select group of elite athletes competing to determine the best in the world.
For more details on the Ultimate Championship and the qualification process, refer to World Athletics’ FAQ.