The European Athletics Championships are set to take place in Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium next week (August 12th-17th) and here is a summary of which athletes are expected to take the honours in Switzerland:
SPRINTS
Four of the six fastest men in European Athletics history will contest the 100m, with France’s Jimmy Vicaut likely to come out on top following his swift 9.95 lifetime best in May.
The 22-year-old European indoor 60m champion has not raced in the last month but he stands a strong chance of improving on his silver medal from the 2012 European edition.
His nearest challengers should be team-mate Christophe Lemaitre, who is chasing a hat-trick of 100m titles following victory in Barcelona in 2010 and Helsinki two years ago, and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands.
Others keen to impress include Great Britain’s James Dasaolu and Chijindu Ujah, Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway and Germany’s Julian Reus.
In the women’s short sprint, it could well be a multi-events specialist who steals the show.
World heptathlon bronze medallist, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands scorched to two sprint national records in the space of two hours at the Glasgow IAAF Diamond League last month with 11.03 and 22.34 clockings, and the 22-year-old is focusing on the 100m and 200m in Zurich.
Defending champion, Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria will be eager to ensure a specialist sprinter takes the continental crown, as will France’s Myriam Soumare and Verena Sailer of Germany.
Lemaitre will return to tackle the 200m and the 24-year-old 2010 champion leads the European rankings with 20.08.
Great Britain’s world fifth placer, Adam Gemili claimed 100m silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow recently and he is capable of taking the gold, with his countryman Danny Talbot, Martina and Saidy-Ndure also medal possibilities.
In the women’s half-lap event, Schippers will return but she faces a stern test in the shape of Great Britain duo, Jodie and Bianca Williams (no relation).
The 20-year-old’s collected Commonwealth 200m silver and bronze in 22.50 and 22.58 personal bests, respectively and look set to add more silverware to their young collection.
Another Brit – Matthew Hudson-Smith – appears ready to capture his first senior international individual title after a breakthrough summer.
The 19-year-old European junior 200m bronze medallist has improved his 400m time to 44.97 this season and he anchored the English team to 4x400m glory in Glasgow.
He will go up against team-mate, Martyn Rooney, Poland’s Jajub Krzewina and Kevin and Jonathan Borlee of Belgium.
The women’s one-lap event could go to Italy’s Libania Grenot, who has a big 50.55 European lead this summer.
The 31-year-old will be chased by Ukraine’s Olha Zemlyk, Russia’s Yekaterina Renzhina and Great Britain’s Olympic champion and double world champion, Christine Ohuruogu – who, despite a poor year, will be determined to claim her first continental gold in an individual event.
MIDDLE DISTANCE
The European under23 champion, Pierre Ambroise-Bosse looks set to enjoy an upgrade to the continental senior crown.
The 22-year-old Frenchman took the bronze medal two years ago but following his impressive 1:42.53 lifetime best this season, he appears the man to beat.
Other names to look out for include Poland’s Marcin Lewandoswki and Adam Kszczot, who have both run in the low-1:44 range this year – and Great British pair Andrew Osagie and Michael Rimmer.
In the women’s two-lap event, Russia’s Yekaterina Poistogova will start as the favourite.
The 23-year-old Olympic bronze medallist has registered 1:58.55 this campaign and she will have Great Britain’s Commonwealth silver medallist, Lynsey Sharp and Jessica Judd – who has clocked a 1:59.77 personal best this season, in addition to the Czech Republic’s Lenka Masna for company.
Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigsten will be gunning for 1500m gold, and the 23-year-old could well retain his European crown over the distance following a fine 3:31.46 lifetime best recently.
Germany’s Homiyu Tesafaye and Ilham Tanui Ozbilen of Turkey also compete.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Abeba Aregawi of Sweden go head-to-head in the women’s metric mile.
21-year-old Hassan has run well on the international circuit this year and clocked a 3:57.00 personal best lately, whilst world indoor and outdoor champion, Aregawi will be hoping to add the continental outdoor title to her indoor crown.
Great Britain duo Laura Muir and Commonwealth runner-up, Laura Weightman – with 4:00.07 and 4:00.17 personal bests from earlier this season – are in with a shout at a medal.
France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad is the clear favourite to take victory in the 3,000m steeplechase.
The 29-year-old two-time Olympic silver medallist should have no trouble adding a third straight European win to his resume here.
Poland’s Krystian Zalewski – with a 8:16.20 personal best this season and Spain’s Victor Garcia are likely to be his nearest challengers.
European Team Championships winner, Charlotta Fougberg of Sweden has run a 9:23.96 lifetime best this summer and the 29-year-old goes up against Finland’s Sandra Eriksson – who has clocked a 9:24.70 personal best this year – and Natalya Kowalska of Russia in the women’s equivalent.
LONG DISTANCE
Olympic and world 5,000m and 10,000m champion, Mo Farah is entered in both events in the Swiss city but following illness and his recent withdrawal from Glasgow, it is unknown if he will indeed contest both disciplines.
The 31-year-old Great Britain will start as the overwhelming favourite in both and over the shorter distance, he will do battle with France’s Bob Tahri – who has registered a 13:12.22 personal best this season – his team-mate, Andy Vernon – 13:11.50 lifetime best this summer – and Arne Gabius of Germany.
In the women’s 5,000m, Hassan will return and with a 14:59.23 lifetime best already this season, her chances are strong but she will face stiff opposition in the form of Great Britain’s Jo Pavey – the 40-year-old who claimed Commonwealth bronze last week.
Others expected to feature highly include Susan Kuijken of the Netherlands – with her 15:04.36 personal best this year – and British pair Emelia Gorecka – 15:07.45 lifetime best recently – and Julia Bleasdale.
In the 10,000m, Farah will again face Tahri and Gabius, in addition to Italy’s Daniele Meucci, whilst the women’s race may see Pavey and Blesdale in action again, together with Belgium’s Almensch Belete – with a 31:43.05 personal best lately – Portugal’s Ana Dulce Felix, Fionnuala Britton of Ireland and Germany’s Sabrina Mockenhaupt.
Swiss hopes are firmly pinned on Viktor Rothlin in the marathon and with a 2:10.18 season’s best, the 39-year-old is capable of adding to his 2010 victory.
Spain’s Ayad Lamdassem – with a 2:09.28 lifetime best set this year – and Poland’s Henryk Szost also contest.
In the women’s 26.2mile event, Portugal’s Jessica Augusto will go up against Italy’s Valeria Straneo.
Augusto – the 32-year-old 10,000m bronze medallist from 2010 – has clocked a 2:24.25 personal best this year, whilst 39-year-old world silver medallist, Straneo stands a strong chase of claiming glory.
HURDLES
France’s Pascal Martinot-Lagarde will be the man to beat in the 110m hurdles, following the 22-year-old’s 12.95 national record in Monaco last month.
The world indoor 60m hurdles runner-up will be challenged by Russia’s defending champion and world bronze medallist, Sergey Shubenkov and Great Britain’s Will Sharman – the Commonwealth silver medallist.
Another French athlete – this time Cindy Billaud – will start as the favourite, following her 12.56 national record in July and the 28-year-old faces Great Britain’s world indoor and outdoor bronze medallist and recent Commonwealth runner-up, Tiffany Porter as well as German pair Nadine Hildebrand and Cindy Roleder.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, 23-year-old Niall Flannery of Great Britain will be keen to build on his breakthrough 48.80 personal best this season but Serbia’s European under 23 and world bronze medallist, Emir Bekric is in strong form, as is Estonia’s Rasmus Magi.
2010 silver medallist and 2011 European indoor 400m flat champion, Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic goes in the women’s one-lap barriers event and the 27-year-old will do battle with Commonwealth silver medallist, Eilidh Child of Great Britain.
JUMPS
World champion, Bogdan Bondarenko has been chasing the high jump record all summer and the 24-year-old Ukrainian looks in shape to target it again here.
With a superb 2.42m lifetime best this season, he will however not be a certainty for the gold medal with Russia’s Olympic champion, Ivan Ukhov – with a 2.41m personal best this year – also in the competition.
Bondarenko’s team-mate, 2.40m jumper Andriy Protsenko will also ensure a tough fight.
Two-time world indoor and outdoor champion, Blanka Vlasic is aiming to repeat her 2010 victory, following the 30-year-old’s recent 2.00m clearance.
Another 2.00m jumper, Mariya Kuchina of Russia in addition to Spain’s Ruth Beitia and Poland’s Justyna Kasprzycka – both having leapt 1.99m this season – will also be in the battle for the medals.
Olympic champion, Greg Rutherford goes into the long jump competition as the favourite following the Great Britain athlete’s recent Commonwealth Games win.
The 27-year-old flew to an impressive 8.51m national record in April and he goes up against Germany’s Christian Reif – who has leapt an 8.49m personal best this year as well as France’s Salim Sdiri.
France’s Eloyse Lesueur will be looking to defend her title in the women’s equivalent, and the 26-year-old world indoor champion is in fine form off the back of her recent 6.92 lifetime best.
Russia’s Anna Klyashtornaya and Darya Klishina – 6.93m and 6.90m this season – will provide the opposition.
25-year-old world indoor champion, Lyukman Adams enters the triple jump contest with a 17.29m season’s best and he will face his compatriot, Aleksey Fyodorov and French pair Yoann Rapiner and Benjamin Compaore.
Russia’s world indoor winner, Yekaterina Koneva of Russia boasts a 14.89m lifetime best from earlier this summer but she will be pushed by Ukraine’s Olympic bronze medallist, Olha Saladukha and Alsu Murtazina.
World indoor pole vault record holder, Renaud Lavillenie will be shooting for his third straight European outdoor victory to add to his three consecutive continental indoor crowns.
The 27-year-old Olympic champion has flown to 5.92m this season and will start as the overwhelming favourite ahead of Poland’s Piotr Lisek – with his 5.82m personal best this year – Germany’s Tobais Scherbarth – with his 5.73m lifetime best this season – and Commonwealth champion, Steve Lewis of Great Britain.
The women’s event is far more open with Germany’s 2010 bronze medallist, Lisa Ryzih leading the way as the 25-year-old holds a 4.71m personal best this season.
Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi – herself having cleared a 4.71m lifetime this year – is also expected to compete for the medals.
THROWS
Two-time world champion and defending European champion, David Storl will be keen to assert his authority following a fine recent 21.97m personal best for the 24-year-old.
Russia’s Aleksandr Lesnoy has thrown a 21.40m lifetime best this year, whilst Poland’s Olympic champion, Tomasz Majewski should additionally compete for the top honours.
World indoor and outdoor silver medallist, Christina Schwanitz will be eager to add the continental outdoor shot put title to her indoor crown from 2013, and the 28-year-old German has a solid 20.22m season’s best to her name.
Halyna Obleshchuk of Ukraine and Russia’s Yevgeniya Kolodko are likely to be her nearest challengers.
World and European champion, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic has a strong 87.38m javelin season’s best and the 31-year-old faces Finland’s world runner-up Tero Pitkamaki and German pair Thomas Rohler – the European under 23 bronze medallist who has improved by more than three metres this year to 86.99m – and Andreas Hofmann – with his 86.13m personal best this season.
Germany’s 2010 winner, Linda Stahl will be keen to make amends for her bronze medal two years ago and the 28-year-old Olympic bronze medallist looks set to do well following her 67.32m lifetime best this summer.
Hanna Hatsko-Fedusova of Ukraine – with a 67.29m personal best this year – and the Czech Republic’s Barbora Spotakova – the world record holder and two-time Olympic champion are also in the field.
In the men’s discus, a thrilling match-up between Poland’s 2010 champion, Piotr Malachowski and Germany’s Olympic champion, Robert Harting will provide a fascinating duel.
31-year-old world silver medallist, Malachowski has thrown 69.28m this season whilst Harting – the three-time world champion – has registered 68.47m.
Estonia’s Gerd Kanter should not be discounted to get in the mix either.
Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic will be chasing a third straight European discus title and with an impressive 70.52m lifetime best already this season, the 24-year-old Olympic and world champion should get her wish.
Germany’s Julia Fischer – with a 66.46m personal best this summer – will likely take the silver medal.
Olympic and European champion, Krisztian Pars of Hungary has recorded an 82.49m lifetime best this season but the 32-year-old will be closely followed by Poland’s world champion, Pawet Fajdek who has thrown an 82.37m personal best this summer.
Betty Heidler will be seeking another gold medal to add to her 2010 title in the women’s hammer, but the 30-year-old Olympic bronze medallist is evenly matched this season with Poland’s defending champion, Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk.
MUTLI-EVENTS
European under23 champion, Kai Kazmirek of Germany leads the decathlon European list with a 8471 lifetime best this summer but the 23-year-old goes up against 8390 man, Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus in addition to Germany’s Rico Freimuth and Kevin Mayer of France.
In the women’s heptathlon, world indoor pentathlon winner Nadine Broersen of the Netherlands will start as the favourite.
The 24-year-old has a 6539 lifetime best this year and she will be pushed by Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam – who has registered a 6508 personal best this summer – and Lilli Schwarzkopf of Germany.
WALKS
Ukrainian duo, Ruslan Dmytrenko and Nazar Kovalenko – with personal bests this year of 1:18.37 and 1:19.46, respectively – stand strong chances of claiming the 20km walk gold medal, whilst Russia’s Denis Strelkov and Miguel Angel-Lopez of Spain will also feature.
World and 2010 European silver medallist, Anisya Kirdyapkina of Russia goes in the women’s equivalent and she goes up against her team-mates, Elmira Alembekova and Vera Sokolova, and Italy’s Eleonora Giori.
In the men’s 50km walk, 36-year-old world champion Robert Heffernan of Ireland will be keen to improve on his 2010 bronze and following his 3:37.56 lifetime best earlier this year, he should do well against Russian pair Ivan Noskov and Mikhail Ryzhov.
RELAYS
France and Great Britain will do battle in the men’s 4x100m relay, with the French relying on Lemaitre and Vicaut and the British calling upon Gemili, Ujah, Talbot and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Richard Kilty.
In the women’s 4x100m, Great Britain are again expected to feature prominently and they will boast the services of Jodie and Bianca Williams, Anyika Onoura, Desiree Henry and Sophie Papps.
The British – with Hudson-Smith, Rooney and Michael Bingham, Conrad Williams – will once more be gunning for glory in the men’s 4x400m but Russia – with Vladimir Krasnov, Pavel Trenikhin – and Belgium with the Borlee brothers – will also be in contention.
The women’s four-lap relay, meanwhile will see a face-off between Great Britain – with Margaret Adeoye, Eilidh Child, Shana Cox and Kelly Massey – and Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
