Lausanne: Lavillenie And Swiss Stars Added To Athletissima's Line-Up

The 41st edition of the IAAF Diamond League meeting Athletissima will take place on Thursday the 25th of August, just after the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Faithful as any other to Athletissima, the world record holder in the pole vault Renaud Lavillenie will be attending the party this year again.

The Frenchman who lives less than 4 hours away from Lausanne dominates his discipline and has topped the overall ranking of the Diamond League for its first 6 editions as well as a second indoor world title this winter in Portland (USA). On the 25th of August, he will compete in the Stadium of La Pontaise only six days after fighting to defend his Olympic title in Brasil. The previous day, Lavillenie, with many other stars, will already be in Switzerland to animate the Kids Clinic.  

Critical Summer for Kariem Hussein

The 400 m hurdles European Champion from Switzerland, Kariem Hussein will also be on the track on the 25th of August. The man from Canton Thurgau is facing his life’s biggest challenge: not only will he be expected to defend his European title in July in Amsterdam, but he will also be competing with great ambitions at his first Olympic Games. In Lausanne, he will be taking part in one of his last races of the season: as a national hero?   

Lea Sprunger: Athletissima’s Ambassadress  

In 2015, for her first season in the 400 m hurdles, Lea Sprunger managed to qualify for the semifinal of Beijing’s World Championships. This year, she intends to take another step forward and dreams of fast times, a European medal, and the Olympic final. Born and raised in Canton de Vaud, Sprunger, who trains and lives in Lausanne, is Athletissima’s new official ambassadress. She will be committed to shine in front of her home crowd on the 25th of August just like the former Swiss star and 400 m hurdles record holder Anita Protti.  

Kambundji, Zbären and Büchel also Lining Up 

In addition to Hussein and Sprunger, three other Swiss athletes are among the favorites for Amsterdam and outsiders for Rio this summer: the Swiss sprint princess Mujinga Kambundji, last year’s 6th place World Championship 100 m hurdler Noemi Zbären, and the 800 m European Indoor Champion Selina Büchel. Great news: all three of them will be in Lausanne the week after the Olympic Games. After taking part in the Kids Clinic the day before, Kambundji will run the 100 m while Zbären and Büchel will stir the crowd competing against the world’s best in their event.