Athletissima is an annual international track and field meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is organized by the Swiss Athletics Federation and is a constituent meeting of the World Athletics Diamond League, the premier global series of elite outdoor athletics competitions.
Overview
- Type of event: Outdoor athletics meet (track and field)
- Location: Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Typical dates: Late July or early August each year
- Affiliation: Part of the World Athletics Diamond League since the league’s inception in 2010; previously a member of the IAAF Grand Prix and the IAAF Golden League circuits
History
Athletissima was inaugurated in 1985 as a regional athletics competition. Over subsequent decades it grew in stature, attracting increasingly prominent athletes and becoming integrated into the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics) series of elite meets. In 2010, with the creation of the Diamond League, Athletissima was selected as one of the founding meetings, solidifying its status as a premier event on the global athletics calendar.
Venue
The competition takes place at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, a multi‑purpose stadium with a capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators. The venue has undergone periodic upgrades to meet the technical standards required for elite international competition, including modern timing systems, a synthetic track surface, and facilities for field events.
Program and Events
Athletissima features the full range of standard Diamond League disciplines: sprints (100 m, 200 m, 400 m), middle‑distance races (800 m, 1500 m), long‑distance events (5000 m, 3000 m steeplechase), hurdles, jumps (long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault), and throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin). The meet typically schedules a mixture of men’s and women’s events, with prize money and Diamond League points awarded to top finishers.
Notable Participation
The meeting regularly attracts world‑ranked athletes and Olympic/World Championship medalists. Participants have included sprinters such as Christian Coleman and Shaunae Miller‑Uibo, distance runners like Joshua Cheptegei, and field specialists such as Armand Duplantis (pole vault) and Sandra Perković (discus). While specific record performances vary by year, the meet has been the site of several season‑best marks and occasional world‑leading times.
Organization and Broadcast
Athletissima is organized in cooperation with the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) and is broadcast internationally through television and streaming partners. The event also includes community outreach programs and youth athletics initiatives in partnership with local schools and clubs.
Significance
As a Diamond League meeting, Athletissima contributes points toward athletes’ qualification for the Diamond League Final, influencing season‑long rankings and prize allocations. Its location in Lausanne—home to the headquarters of World Athletics—reinforces its symbolic importance within the sport’s governance and global community.
References
- World Athletics. “Athletissima – Lausanne (SUI).” Official Diamond League website.
- Swiss Athletics Federation. “History of Athletissima.”
- Stade Olympique de la Pontaise. Facility specifications and event history.
