The Wanda Diamond LeagueCompetition·Wanda Diamond League circuit arrives in LausanneVenue·Lausanne, Switzerland, on August 21, 2026, for the AthletissimaCompetition·Athletissima meeting, featuring two of athletics' most compelling talents: Jamaica's Shericka JacksonPlayer·Shericka Jackson and Kenya's Emmanuel WanyonyiPlayer·Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Both athletes face strong competition as they navigate the crucial final stages of the season, with significant implications for their Diamond League Final aspirations and overall standings.
Shericka JacksonPlayer·Shericka Jackson, the two-time world 200m champion from 2022 and 2023, enters LausanneVenue·Lausanne aiming for her third Diamond League victory of the 2026 season. Her previous wins this campaign came against Shaunae Miller-UiboPlayer·Shaunae Miller-Uibo in Shanghai/KeqiaoVenue·Shanghai/Keqiao and XiamenVenue·Xiamen. A triumph in LausanneVenue·Lausanne is essential for Jackson, as it would secure her qualification for the Wanda Diamond LeagueCompetition·Wanda Diamond League Final in BrusselsVenue·Brussels, where she seeks a potential fourth career Diamond Trophy. Jackson's recent form includes a 200m time of 21.87 seconds in XiamenVenue·Xiamen in May 2026, and a 100m win at the Jamaican national championships in June with 10.81 seconds, her fastest since 2023. In LausanneVenue·Lausanne, she will once again contend with Shaunae Miller-UiboPlayer·Shaunae Miller-Uibo and rising talent Amy HuntPlayer·Amy Hunt. Organizers anticipate Jackson could challenge the long-standing meeting record of 22.07 seconds, set by Merlene OtteyPlayer·Merlene Ottey in 1995.
In the men's 800m, Emmanuel WanyonyiPlayer·Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the reigning Olympic and World champion, is poised to compete in a highly anticipated race. Wanyonyi has already secured his qualification for the September 2026 Diamond League Final and set a new 1000m world record in MonacoVenue·Monaco earlier this season. Despite these achievements, the 2026 Diamond League campaign has proven challenging for Wanyonyi, who is still seeking his first 800m win in the series, having experienced narrow defeats, including against Brandon MillerPlayer·Brandon Miller in LondonVenue·London last month. As of July 20, 2026, Wanyonyi leads the 2026 Diamond League 800m standings with 27 points. His impressive 2025 season included winning the 800m at the World ChampionshipsCompetition·World Championships in TokyoVenue·Tokyo with a championship record time of 1:41.86, and achieving a world lead of 1:41.44 in MonacoVenue·Monaco. In LausanneVenue·Lausanne, Wanyonyi will face a formidable challenge from Marco AropPlayer·Marco Arop, who currently holds the world lead for 2026 with a time of 1:41.84, established at the ParisVenue·Paris Diamond League in June. Brandon MillerPlayer·Brandon Miller also presents a significant threat. Wanyonyi has openly expressed his ambition to win a fourth successive Diamond League title in 2026 and is setting his sights on breaking the 800m world record.
The AthletissimaCompetition·Athletissima meeting serves as a critical juncture for athletes aiming to solidify their positions and secure berths for the World Athletics Ultimate ChampionshipCompetition·World Athletics Ultimate Championship, adding another layer of intensity to the already competitive fields.
Shericka Jackson at a press conference before the Xiamen Diamond League. NurPhoto/IMAGO
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