Bloudek and Kolak face new major challenges in Lausanne

Croatian athletes Marino Bloudek and Sara Kolak face significant challenges at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. This event marks another major competition for both after their recent successes at the European Championships in Birmingham.

Marino Bloudek will compete in the 800-meter race, just days after securing a silver medal at the European Championships. This achievement is historic, as it is the first European medal for Croatia in the 800 meters in 52 years. In Lausanne, Bloudek will face formidable international competition, including Spain's Barros and Italy's Pernici, who also competed in Birmingham. He will also go head-to-head with top global 800-meter runners such as Canada's Marco Arop, USA's Bryce Hoppel, Algeria's Djamel Sedjati, and Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

Sara Kolak, who recently earned a gold medal to become European champion in the javelin for the first time in eight years, will also compete in Lausanne. She will encounter several rivals from the European Championship final, including Norway's Sigrid Borge, Switzerland's Géraldine Ruckstuhl, and fellow Croatian Adrijana Vilagoš, who won bronze. The field also includes strong contenders like reigning world champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan, Australia's Mackenzie Little, Colombia's Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado, and American Maggie Malone-Wilson.

The Lausanne Diamond League meeting is a crucial event in the lead-up to the season's grand finale in Brussels. With only three more meetings remaining after Lausanne, Silesia, Zurich, and the final in Brussels on September 4-5, these competitions are vital for athletes aiming to secure their positions and perform well in the overall standings.