Zurich, Wednesday
Audrey Werro has boldly backed herself to shatter one of track and field’s most controversial and ancient milestones, declaring, "I think with this mentality the world record will fall one day. But I don't know when."
The reigning 22-year-old European 800 metres champion is targeting the legendary one minute, 53.28 seconds mark set by Czechoslovakia's Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, a record that has stood completely untouched for over four decades.
Having clocked an astonishing 1:53.80 in Paris, the Swiss prodigy has climbed to third on the all-time list, coming within a mere half-second of history and sending a clear warning shot to Kenya's traditional dominance over the two-lap distance.
Werro's sudden ascendancy poses a direct tactical threat to elite Kenyan middle-distance runners like Mary Moraa. Traditionally, Kenyan athletes excel in tactical, slower-paced championship races where they can rely on explosive final-kick speeds.
However, Werro's open pursuit of a world record guarantees a blistering, high-tempo pace from the gun, effectively eliminating the slow, strategic pacing that East African runners like to dictate.
Audrey Werro's trademark celebration, in which she mimics outstretched claws, is in honour of her father's advice to channel the spirit of a lion on the track after her judged her too timid in childhood races. (Photo / Courtesy)
Graduated From University
Now fully focused on athletics after graduating from university, Werro has dropped three of the 10 fastest times in history this season alone.
"The biggest difference this year was that I finished university one year ago," said Werro, who saw off Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to claim her continental title in Birmingham earlier this month.
"Now I'm just focused on athletics and I just have more time for the competition, the training, the recovery, everything. I have worked a lot more in the mentality part over the past two years and you are seeing the result now."
Her aggressive, fearless front-running style — fueled by what she calls her "lion spirit" — means Kenyan coaches and athletes must completely re-engineer their race strategies to match a historic pace if they hope to hold off the Swiss star at the upcoming Zurich Diamond League and beyond.
Werro's trademark celebration, in which she mimics outstretched claws, is in honour of her father's advice to channel the spirit of a lion on the track after her judged her too timid in childhood races.
While Hodgkinson has pulled out of the Zurich meet – the final Diamond League outing before the series final in Brussels on 4-5 September – Femke Broeders-Bol of the Netherlands will be on the start line alongside Werro.
The legendary one minute, 53.28 seconds world record was set by Czechoslovakia's Jarmila Kratochvilova (right) in 1983, a record that has stood completely untouched for over four decades. (Photo / File)
Broeders-Bol only stepped up to the two-lap distance this season, having won the 400m hurdles world title in Tokyo in 2025.
The 26-year-old finished only eight hundredths of a second behind Werro in Lausanne last week and took European bronze in Birmingham. She admits she has been surprised by how fast she has adapted to the event.
"I didn't expect to be this fast already – to run a national record already – so it has been very nice to surprise myself with my level," said Broeders-Bol.
The Wanda Diamond League has published the official entry list for the women's 800m at the 2026 Weltklasse Zürich, featuring Werro, scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026. The field includes top contenders such as Femke Broeders-Bol, Georgia Hunter Bell, and Jessica Hull.
In Hodgkinson' absence, Hunter-Bell, who won world 800m silver last year and has claimed national and Commonwealth titles over the distance this season, will be Britain's sole representative in the race, which begins at 10:41pm, Kenyan time.
