Lausanne Diamond League: Olympic Rematches & Record-Breaking Potential

The Lausanne Diamond League is set to ignite the track and field scene this week, featuring a captivating mix of Olympic champions, thrilling rematches, and potential record-breaking performances.

400m: A Battle of Olympic Titans

While Olympic champion Quincy Hall's absence from the men's 400m has dimmed its firepower, the race remains a must-watch event. Olympic silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith and bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga, fresh off their historic podium finish in Paris, are poised for another epic clash over the one-lap distance.

They are the only athletes in the field to have broken 44 seconds in the open 400m, but several contenders are capable of joining their elite ranks. American duo Vernon Norwood and Bryce Deadmon, along with Botswana's Busang Kebinatshipi and Great Britain's Charlie Dobson, each demonstrated blistering speed in the Olympic 4x400m relay final. Should any of these athletes match Hudson-Smith's aggressive early pace, they could potentially break the 43-second barrier.

200m: Tebogo Faces a Tough Challenge

Letsile Tebogo, the reigning Olympic 200m champion and a key member of Botswana's silver-medal winning relay team, will be making his first appearance at the distance since his historic victory. He faces a formidable field, but Tebogo remains the clear favourite.

USADA Controversy Casts Shadow on Knighton

Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the AIU, WADA, and USADA, Erriyon Knighton continues to focus on his performances, making his Diamond League debut this week. He will be joined by Fred Kerley, who, despite a relatively quiet season in the 200m, recently achieved his fastest 100m time in two years, earning Olympic bronze. With a personal best of 19.76, he could certainly challenge the leading contenders.

Richards Returns to the 200m

Jereem Richards, the unlucky fourth-place finisher in the record-breaking 400m final in Paris, returns to the 200m this week, where he previously secured bronze at the 2017 World Championships and reached global finals in Eugene and Tokyo. His exceptional 43.78 time in Paris cemented his position as the 16th fastest man in history.

110m Hurdles: The Best of the Best

The men's 110m hurdles will showcase a constellation of world-class athletes, including the entire Olympic podium and Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment.

However, all eyes will be on Grant Holloway, the reigning Olympic champion and three-time World champion. Holloway's dominance this season is unmatched, and his performances are drawing comparisons to Aries Merritt's 2012 campaign, which culminated in a world record of 12.80 in Brussels. Holloway's trajectory mirrors Merritt's: both won Olympic gold on August 8th and both had five wind-legal sub-13 performances before their Olympic triumphs. Holloway's current season's best of 12.86 sets the stage for a potential world record run in the coming weeks, as he aims to become the first man to break the 12.7-second barrier.

Ingebrigtsen and Hocker Back on the Track

The focus will also be on the return of Jakob Ingebrigtsen and the inclusion of Cooper Hocker in the field, promising a captivating 1500m race.

The Lausanne Diamond League promises a thrilling spectacle with a star-studded field and the potential for history to be made.