Lausanne Diamond League 2023: Top five athletes to watch out for

The sixth meet of the 2023 series boasts an all-star lineup.

The upcoming event on Friday, June 30 marks the sixth meet of the prestigious Diamond League athletics series. The 2023 Athletissima in Lausanne boasts a remarkable lineup of renowned athletes including Olympic and world gold medallists who are set to grace the occasion.

The spotlight in Lausanne will shine brightly on the middle and distance running events. Notably, the return of the innovative wavelight technology is eagerly anticipated as it promises to assist athletes in surpassing their personal limits.

Without further ado, here are the top five athletes to keep a close eye on during the Lausanne Diamond League as they are likely to deliver outstanding performances on the track.

5. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (1500m)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, an exceptional middle-distance runner is making his comeback to pursue the fastest time ever recorded in the 1500m event. Ingebrigtsen recently etched his name in the middle distance record books for the second time in just six days at the Bislett Games in Oslo last week.

Following his feat of breaking Daniel Komen's world best in the two-mile race in Paris, Ingebrigtsen triumphed in the 1500m event by crossing the finish line in a remarkable time of 3:27.95. This outstanding achievement captivated the crowd in his hometown, Oslo as he surpassed his own European record of 3:28.32, which he had set during the Tokyo Olympics.

With an impressive streak of record-breaking performances, Jakob Ingebrigtsen has firmly established himself as an athlete to watch out for.

Joshua Cheptegei (5000m)

When it comes to the men's 5000m event, all eyes are on Joshua Cheptegei, the reigning Olympic champion who stands head and shoulders above the rest as the clear favorite. Cheptegei who is the sole representative from Uganda at the Lausanne Diamond League will face tough competition from athletes such as Yomif Kejelcha, the current world leader in the 5000m for the 2023 season.

One can be confident by taking a look at his illustrious track record . He holds the title of reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 metres and has earned a silver medal in the 10,000 metres. Additionally, he has secured the title of two-time World champion in the 10,000m, winning in both 2019 and 2022. Furthermore, he has claimed a silver medal in the World Championships in 2017 and emerged as the World Cross Country champion in 2019.

Ryan Crouser (Shot put)

In addition to the track events, the field events are equally captivating and demand attention. One standout athlete to watch is Ryan Crouser, the current world record holder in shot put. Two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser, recently left the world in awe as he demolished his own world record. At the Los Angeles Grand Prix, Crouser unleashed an extraordinary throw of 23.56 meters surpassing his previous record of 23.37 meters.

Crouser is set to commence his Diamond League campaign in Lausanne driven by the desire to regain the coveted Diamond Trophy he secured in 2021. This American powerhouse will engage in a highly anticipated showdown against the reigning champion, Joe Kovacs, at the Stade de la Pontaise.

Sreeshankar Murali (Long Jump)

Sreeshankar showcased his skills by securing a remarkable third-place finish in the men's long jump event at the Paris Meet. In another notable achievement, the 24-year-old athlete successfully attained the qualifying mark in long jump for both the Budapest World Athletics Championships in August and the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled for September-October in the 62nd National Inter State Senior Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar.

During the first qualification round, Sreeshankar achieved a magnificent 8.41m jump surpassing the required qualification distance. Moreover, he surpassed his own previous meet record of 8.23m.

Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, who has been recovering from a muscle strain, is set to make his comeback in Lausanne. Since his victory at the Doha Diamond League in May, Chopra has been sidelined due to injury. As the reigning Diamond League javelin throw champion, he started his season with a solid performance, achieving a distance of 88.67m.

In Lausanne, Chopra will face off against Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic who won the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Vadlejch currently holds the world-leading distance of 89.51m surpassing Chopra's 88.67m recorded at the Paavo Nurmi Games.