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Weltklasse Zürich
Swiss track and field invitational event
Swiss track and field invitational event
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| bgcolour | #FE9A2E | |
| image | File:Letzigrund Zuerich.jpg | imagesize = 250px |
| caption | The host stadium – Letzigrund | |
| date | August – September | |
| location | Zürich, Switzerland | |
| type | Track and field | |
| iaaf_category | GW/DF | |
| est | ||
| homepage | Diamond League Zürich | |
| current | yes |
Weltklasse Zürich () is an annual, invitation-only, world-class track and field meeting at the Letzigrund in Zürich, Switzerland, generally held at the end of August or beginning of September. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it now serves as a final of the Wanda Diamond League, alongside Memorial Van Damme between 2010 and 2019. In 2021 and 2022, Weltklasse Zürich served as the sole final of the Diamond League, and this is also planned for 2025 and 2027. So far, 27 world records have been set at Weltklasse Zürich. In 1988, Carl Lewis won the 100-meter duel against Ben Johnson. The time of 9.93 seconds was upgraded to a world record a year later, following Johnson’s doping case.
One of the first large-scale international athletics events (outside the Summer Olympics), it is sometimes referred to as the one-day Olympics. With a budget of about ten million Swiss francs, Weltklasse Zürich ranks among the most expensive events in athletics. Every year, it draws around 25,000 fans to Letzigrund Stadium, with competitions broadcast in up to 135 countries. Since 2014, Christoph Joho and Andreas Hediger have led the organization as co-directors.
Weltklasse Zürich first took place on 12 August 1928. In the beginning, the meeting was nicknamed by the public the "Nurmi meeting" after the most admired and celebrated participant at the time, Paavo Nurmi. On 21 June 1960, on the Letzigrund track, Armin Hary became the first human to run the 100 m dash in 10.0 seconds.
UBS has supported Weltklasse Zürich as its main sponsor since 1981. Other sponsors are Vaudoise Assurances, Migros, Le Gruyère Switzerland, Medica, Omega, Swiss, Lexus, Erdgas and Puma.
History

The meeting was conceived in 1924 by the athletic section of the FC Zürich which became the Leichtathletik Club Zürich in 1934, and was first held at the Letzigrund on a dirt track on 12 August 1928 as the Internationales Leichtathletik-Meeting in Zürich. Since 1935 it also became known as the "American Meeting", similar to the Bislett Games, and this continued into the 1950s. A notable hiatus occurred after the 1952 meeting until the rebuilt Letzigrund Stadium opened in 1958, although a meeting had still been planned for August 1954. The name "Weltklasse Zürich" was adopted in 1959. The meet would not be held regularly on an annual basis until 1973, and the Weltklasse introduced electronic timing the following year.
During 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Weltklasse Zürich from taking place, instead an event called Inspiration Games was held.
Track surface
The first surface was made of dirt in 1928, and the first synthetic track surface in Europe was installed in 1968. The number of lanes was increased to eight in the early 1970s which forced the Weltklasse to be put on hold for two years for the construction to take place.
The current surface at the Letzigrund Stadium was developed in 2014 by the Swiss company CONICA. The new surface was installed in June 2014 at a cost of 800,000 CHF and was paid for by the city of Zurich, which owns Letzigrund Stadium.
Editions
Some of the earliest editions were bilateral matches that are not counted among the 29 "Internationales" and Weltklasse meetings organized from 1928 til 1977.
World records
Over the course of its history, numerous world records have been set at Weltklasse Zürich.
| Year | Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | 1959 | 1960 | 1969 | 1973 | 1975 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1984 | 1985 | 1988 | 1989 | 1991 | 1992 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 2006 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 | West Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13.2 / | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13.56 | West Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10.0 | West Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13.2 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13.1 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discus throw | 70.20 m | Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:32.1 | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:52.47 | Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:48.53 | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.93 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10.76 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4:16.71 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 43.29 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.92 | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37.67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leroy Burrell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dennis Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carl Lewis | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:02.08 | Kenya | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:44.39 | Ethiopia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:59.18 | Kenya | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4:12.56 | Russia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:41.24 | Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:59.08 | Kenya | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:41.86 | Ethiopia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9.77 | Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pole vault | 5.06 m | Russia |
Meeting records
Men
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Ref. | 100 m | 200 m | 400 m | 800 m | 1500 m | Mile | 3000 m | 5000 m | 110 m hurdles | 400 m hurdles | 3000 m steeplechase | High jump | Pole vault | Long jump | Triple jump | Shot put | Discus throw | Hammer throw | Javelin throw | 4 × 100 m relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.76 | Yohan Blake | Jamaica | 30 August 2012 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19.52 | Noah Lyles | United States | 8 September 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 43.29 | Harry ("Butch") Reynolds | United States | 17 August 1988 | 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:41.24 | Wilson Kipketer | Denmark | 13 August 1997 | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:26.45 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 12 August 1998 | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:45.19 | Noureddine Morceli | Algeria | 16 August 1995 | 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:32.54 | Said Aouita | Morocco | 13 August 1986 | 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:41.86 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 13 August 1997 | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.92 | Roger Kingdom | United States | 16 August 1989 | 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.92 | Cordell Tinch | United States | 28 August 2025 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46.70 | Karsten Warholm | Norway | 28 August 2025 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:56.54 | Saif Saeed Shaheen | Qatar | 18 August 2006 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:53.17 | Brahim Boulami | Morocco | 16 August 2002 | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.40 m | Charles Austin | United States | 7 August 1991 | 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6.07 m (outdoor) | Armand Duplantis | Sweden | 8 September 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.92 m (indoor) | Shawnacy Barber | Canada | 2 September 2015 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8.65 m DLR | Juan Miguel Echevarría | Cuba | 29 August 2019 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17.80 m | Christian Taylor | United States | 1 September 2016 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.23 m (outdoor) DLR | Joe Kovacs | United States | 7 September 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22.03 m (indoor) | Ryan Whiting | United States | 28 August 2013 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 71.12 m | Virgilijus Alekna | Lithuania | 11 August 2000 | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 83.24 m | Andrey Abduvaliyev | Uzbekistan | 17 August 1994 | 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 94.42 m (old design) | Uwe Hohn | East Germany | 21 August 1985 | 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 92.28 m (current design) | Raymond Hecht | Germany | 14 August 1996 | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37.45 DLR | Trell Kimmons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wallace Spearmon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyson Gay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Rodgers | United States | 19 August 2010 | 2010 |
Women
| Event | Record | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Meet | Ref. | Video | 100 m | 200 m | 400 m | 800 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | Mile | 3000 m | 5000 m | 100 m hurdles | 400 m hurdles | 3000 m steeplechase | High jump | Pole vault | Long jump | Triple jump | Shot put | Discus throw | Javelin throw | 4 × 100 m relay | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.65 | Elaine Thompson-Herah | Jamaica | 9 September 2021 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10.65 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | Jamaica | 8 September 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21.66 | Merlene Ottey | Jamaica | 15 August 1990 | 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48.70 | Salwa Eid Naser | Bahrain | 28 August 2025 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:54.01 | Pamela Jelimo | Kenya | 29 August 2008 | 2008 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pquxpT2CMq4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2:32.70 | Jolanta Januchta | Poland | 19 August 1981 | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:52.47 | Tatyana Kazankina | Soviet Union | 13 August 1980 | 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4:12.56 | Svetlana Masterkova | Russia | 14 August 1996 | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:22.34 | Almaz Ayana | Ethiopia | 3 September 2015 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14:09.52 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya | 5 September 2024 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12.29 | Tobi Amusan | Nigeria | 8 September 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 52.18 | Femke Bol | Netherlands | 28 August 2025 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:55.29 | Ruth Jebet | Bahrain | 24 August 2017 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.05 m | Mariya Lasitskene | ANA | 8 September 2021 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.06 m (outdoor) | Yelena Isinbayeva | Russia | 28 August 2009 | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.91 m (indoor) | Nina Kennedy | Australia | 30 August 2023 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7.39 m | Heike Drechsler | East Germany | 21 August 1985 | 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15.48 m | Yulimar Rojas | Venezuela | 9 September 2021 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20.31 m (outdoor) | Lijiao Gong | China | 29 August 2019 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20.98 m (indoor) | Valerie Adams | New Zealand | 28 August 2013 | 2013 | title=Valerie Adams produces 2013 best to win the Diamond Race - IAAF Diamond League | url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/valerie-adams-produces-2013-best-to-win-the-d | publisher=IAAF | author=Phil Minshull | date=28 August 2013 | access-date=29 August 2013}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70.20 m | Faina Melnik | Soviet Union | 20 August 1975 | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70.40 m (old design) | Petra Felke | East Germany | 13 August 1986 | 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69.57 m (current design) DLR | Christina Obergföll | Germany | 8 September 2011 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 41.60 | Sherone Simpson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natasha Morrison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elaine Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | Jamaica | 3 September 2015 | 2015 |
Notes
References
References
- (2024). "Events Calendar Diamond League Meetings".
- "Weltklasse Zürich to host Wanda Diamond League Finals in 2021 and 2022 instead of September 2020".
- "Calendar".
- (2022-05-09). "Weltklasse Zürich to host Wanda Diamond League Finals again in 2025 and 2027".
- "History - Weltklasse Zürich".
- "Awards".
- "Weltklasse Zürich - IAAF Diamond League Serie".
- (2017-08-22). "Ein Herz mit zwei Seelen".
- (2013-08-28). "Wechsel in Meetingdirektion". Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
- Brockmann, Olaf. (2020-06-21). "60 years on, Hary recounts his historic 10.0 100m world record".
- (August 2025). "Weltklasse Zürich".
- "Sponsors - Diamond League - Zurich".
- [https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/weltklasse-1928-2003/3458474 "Weltklasse: 1928-2003"]. ''[[Swissinfo]]''. 14 August 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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- (5 August 1935). "Zürichs Amerikaner-Meeting". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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- (15 July 1957). "Amerikanischer Leichtathletenbesuch". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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- "CONICA Track Systems - CONIPUR M". conica.com.
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- (12 May 2014). "Bolt to Compete on Zurich's New Track - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF.
- (12 May 2014). "High Hopes for Low Times for Bolt on New Zurich Surface As he Announces He Will Run Weltklasse". insidethegames.biz.
- (11 August 1978). "50 Jahre Weltklasse in Zürich – die Geschichte des «Internationalen»". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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- (3 July 1963). "Berühmte Leichtathleten in Zürich". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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- (28 June 1968). "9,9 auch in Zürich?". [[Neue Zürcher Nachrichten]].
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- (3 July 1970). "Auch John Pennel in Zürich". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
- "Race Series 5km: Weltklasse Zurich".
- (9 July 1973). "«Zürich 73» — ein Erfolg in jeder Hinsicht". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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- "1988 Results".
- "1989 Results".
- "1990 Results".
- "1991 Results".
- "1992 Results".
- "1993 Results".
- "1994 Results".
- "1995 Results".
- "1996 Results".
- "1997 Results".
- "1998 Results".
- "1999 Results".
- "2000 Results".
- "2001 Results".
- "2002 Results".
- "2003 Results".
- "2004 Results".
- "2005 Results".
- "2006 Results".
- "2007 Results".
- "2008 Results".
- "2009 Results".
- "2010 Results".
- "2011 Results".
- "2012 Results".
- "2013 Results".
- "2014 Results".
- "2015 Results".
- "2016 Results".
- "2017 Results".
- "2018 Results".
- "2019 Results".
- "2020 Results".
- "2021 Results".
- "2022 Results".
- "2023 Results".
- "2024 Results".
- "2025 Results".
- "Weltklasse Zürich World Records". www.diamondleague-zurich.com.
- (30 August 2012). "Men's 100m – Results". [[IAAF]].
- (30 August 2012). "Men's 100m – Results". Diamond League – Zurich.
- (8 September 2022). "Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich". World Athletics.
- (28 August 2025). "110m Results".
- (28 August 2025). "400m Hurdles Results".
- (8 September 2022). "Duplantis and Rojas retain Diamond League titles with dominant performances in Zurich". World Athletics.
- (2015-09-02). "Shawn Barber steals the show at the main train station".
- Bob Ramsak. (29 August 2019). "Echevarria leaps world-leading 8.65m in Zurich - IAAF Diamond League".
- (1 September 2016). "Triple Jump Men Results".
- Jess Whittington. (7 September 2022). "Kovacs throws 23.23m in superb shot put showdown on Sechselautenplatz". World Athletics.
- (9 September 2021). "100m Result".
- (8 September 2022). "Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich". World Athletics.
- (28 August 2025). "400m Results".
- (3 September 2015). "3000m Results".
- (5 September 2024). "5000m Results".
- (8 September 2022). "Amusan and Lyles break meeting records en route to Diamond League wins in Zurich". World Athletics.
- (28 August 2025). "400m Hurdles Results".
- (24 August 2017). "3000m Steeplechase Results".
- (8 September 2021). "High Jump Women Result".
- (30 August 2023). "Pole Vault Results".
- (9 September 2021). "Triple Jump Result".
- (2019-08-29). "Shot Put Women results".
- Phil Minshull. (28 August 2013). "Valerie Adams produces 2013 best to win the Diamond Race - IAAF Diamond League". [[IAAF]].
- (8 September 2011). "Javelin Women: Results". [[Omega SA.
- (3 September 2015). "4×100m Relay Results".
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