The Lausanne Diamond League meeting on August 22, 2024, showcased a mix of triumphs and challenges for athletes fresh from the Paris Olympics. India’s Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic silver medalist in javelin throw, competed despite dealing with a persistent groin injury. Chopra, who finished fourth after the first round, aims to breach the 90m mark and secure a spot in the Diamond League finals.In a stunning performance, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen dominated the 1500-meter event with a time of 3:27.83, his third-fastest ever. This victory avenged his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. Ingebrigtsen has now won 10 consecutive 1500-meter events in the Diamond League since September 2021.Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the newly crowned Olympic champion, set a personal best in the 800m with a time of 1:41.11, inching closer to David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91 set in 2012. In the shot put, Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye secured second place with a throw of 19.55 meters, expressing satisfaction with her performance.However, not all post-Olympic news was positive. Mexican archer Alejandra Valencia, a double Olympic bronze medalist, expressed disappointment after learning that her scholarship from the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sport (Conade) had been reduced. Valencia, who won bronze in the team event at Paris 2024, shared her frustration on social media, stating, ‘I came to sign the documentation for my scholarship and found out that due to the operating rules of @CONADE, they had lowered my scholarship after the Olympic medal. Well, thank you very much’. This decision has sparked criticism of Conade’s management and its current director, Ana Gabriela Guevara.
Key points
- Neeraj Chopra competed in Lausanne despite a groin injury, aiming for the Diamond League finals.
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen dominated the 1500m event, continuing his Diamond League winning streak.
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi set a personal best in the 800m, approaching the world record.
- Mexican archer Alejandra Valencia’s scholarship was reduced despite winning an Olympic bronze medal, sparking controversy.
