Weltklasse Zürich Up Close – Two Days of Athletics at Zurich Main Station

In Switzerland, any discussion revolving around shot put usually includes the name of Werner Günthör. And of course, the triple World Champion will be present at Zurich Main Station: He will act as a commentator, and will explain both the action in the competitions and the fascination of this sophisticated discipline of athletics.

He will make sure to keep an eye on Valerie Adams’ performance, as he has helped coaching the Olympic and World Champion this summer, together with his own former coach, Jean-Pierre Egger. Her mission will be to win in Zurich. Last year, she placed second at the immensely successful premiere of Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station.

“I came to know Jean-Pierre and Werner better at the occasion of the shot put event in Zurich, last year. It was the beginning of a very successful co-operation. So, I am really excited to come back. By now, I almost feel like a local in Switzerland,” Adams explained. She is currently leading the Samsung Diamond Race. Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station represents the final event.

Gregori Ott to finally meet Werner Günthör in person

By contrast, Gregori Ott and Werner Günthör have not met at all so far. The 17-year-old talent has repeatedly bettered the national U18 record (which is now at 19.18m with a 5 kg shot), and he has been a finalist at the U18 world championships in Lille. “I regularly watch the videos of Werner’s competitions and training units,” Ott said. Meeting his idol will be one of two treats during his appearance in Zurich.

The other one will be the competition itself, as the event will put him in the spotlight together with the world’s best shot putters of the 2011 season. Whereas Ott will use the 5kg shot (the standard shot for his age group), his colleagues will catapult the regular 7.26 kg shot through the arena in the station hall.

One year ago, Ott had managed to get his picture taken together with Olympic Champion Tomasz Majewski (POL). “I definitely did not expect to be sharing the stage with him within just one year!” The young athlete is also particularly looking forward to competing with 2009 World Champion Christian Cantwell (USA): “He uses the same rotational technique as I do. I admire his perfect throwing motion.”

Exhibition at Zurich Main Station: Experience World-Class Performances

The Samsung Diamond League official shot put events on 7 September 2011 will begin at 4 p.m. (competitions to start at 5 p.m.), and will mark the closing event of Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station. At the same time, of course, they will be launching the meeting at Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday night.

This year, people in Zurich will have an opportunity to take a close look at what it takes to be a world-class athlete. An athletics exhibition entitled Experience World-Class Performances will be opened on Tuesday, 6 September, at noon. Visitors and passers-by will be magically lifted up to pole vault world record heights (6.14m in the men’s event, and 5.06m in the women’s event). Or they can have a go at a long distance runner’s job by running an average running pace of a race on a treadmill for a little while. The most daring fans, however, will sign up for an all-comers shot put competition. This competition will take place on Wednesday, 7 September, between noon and 2.30 p.m. at the shot put arena at Zurich Main Station.

Weltklasse Zürich at Zurich Main Station – Programme of Events

• as of Tuesday, 6 September, noon: Exhibition Experience World-Class Performances
• Wednesday, 7 September, noon – 2.30 p.m.: All-comers shot put event
• Wednesday, 7 September, 4 p.m.: Opening shot put arena, warm-up women’s event
• Wednesday, 7 September, 5 p.m.: official shot put event women (Samsung Diamond League final)
• Wednesday, 7 September, 6.35 p.m.: official shot put event men (Samsung Diamond League)