Audrey Werro wins Lausanne 800m in 1:55.33 for fifth straight Diamond League victory

Victory in Lausanne

European champion Audrey Werro secured her fifth consecutive Diamond League victory on 21 August 2026 at the 51st edition of Athletissima in Lausanne. The 22-year-old Swiss runner clocked 1:55.33 in the women's 800 metres, setting a meeting record at the Pontaise stadium track. Werro held off Femke Broeders-Bol on the final straight, defeating the Dutch athlete by 0.08 seconds as Broeders-Bol set a Dutch national record of 1:55.41. Saida Tsehaye of Ethiopia finished in third place with a time of 1:56.92. Swiss athletes Veronica Vancardo and Valentina Rosamilia completed the top five, recording times of 1:58.68 and 1:58.93 respectively.

Pursuit of the world mark

The race began with a fast opening lap under conditions below 15 degrees Celsius. Dutch pacemaker Myrte Van der Schoot led the field through the first 400 metres in 54.64 seconds, setting a tempo aimed toward Jarmila Kratochvilova's 1983 world mark of 1:53.28. Werro fell behind the light pacing system after 600 metres and finished outside her personal best of 1:53.80, established in Paris in late June. Following the race, the Fribourg runner addressed the physical and emotional demands of competing on home soil.

I did not think it was going to be for tonight. It gave me great pleasure to run in Switzerland, after quite a few competitions abroad, and I felt in shape, but I did not return that long ago and I had quite a few emotions to digest. Do I have that time in my legs? One will need to go fast. But I think I can at least get close to it.

Reactions from Swiss teammates

Werro's 2026 outdoor campaign includes earlier Diamond League victories in Rabat, Stockholm, and Paris, following an earlier win in Zurich. Her performances drew praise from national team colleagues at the Lausanne venue. Swiss sprinter Salomé Kora, who competed in the winning 4x100-metre relay, pointed to the runner's composure under competitive expectations.

It sounds funny, but it is true: I am 32 and I am an absolute fan of a 22-year-old. It is so striking how she consistently lives up to her role as favourite. And with what calm she approaches races.

Heptathlete Annik Kälin also highlighted Werro's focus, noting her ability to manage race pressure while maintaining self-belief.

Field and sprint results

Athletissima featured multiple podium finishes for Swiss and international competitors in Lausanne. In the women's pole vault, Angelica Moser placed second with a clearance of 4.74 metres on her second attempt, finishing behind American Hana Moll, who won at 4.84 metres. Long jumper Simon Ehammer registered 8.13 metres on his fifth attempt to take second place behind Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, who won with 8.24 metres. In the hurdles, Masai Russell of the United States won the women's 100-metre hurdles in a meeting record of 12.27 seconds ahead of Nadine Visser, while Ditaji Kambundji clocked 12.71 seconds. In the men's 200 metres, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana won in 19.87 seconds, with Switzerland's Timothé Mumenthaler finishing in sixth place.