Audrey Werro Targets Historic 800m World Record

Posted : 21 August 2026

Newly crowned European 800m champion Audrey Werro will return to action on home soil on Friday, with the Swiss star setting her sights on one of athletics’ longest-standing world records at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Werro produced a remarkable performance at the European Championships in Birmingham, defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to win gold in a championship-record time of 1:54.81. The 22-year-old has already broken the 1:54 barrier twice this season, including her 1:53.80 run in Paris, which ranks among the fastest performances ever recorded over 800m.

The world record remains Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1:53.28, set in 1983. The mark has stood for more than four decades and remains one of the most enduring records in track and field, although its history continues to attract scrutiny because of the widespread doping concerns surrounding athletics during that era.

Hodgkinson will not compete in Lausanne, but Werro faces a strong field that includes reigning world champion Lilian Odira of Kenya and Femke Broeders-Bol of the Netherlands. Broeders-Bol won bronze behind Werro and Hodgkinson in Birmingham while continuing her impressive transition from the 400m hurdles to the 800m.

Werro is determined to make the most of racing before her home crowd. The Diamond League event will also feature Wavelight technology, giving athletes visual pacing information around the track, while Myrte van der Schoot is expected to help set the tempo.

The Swiss runner has made it clear that while the world record is an ambition, she does not want to become obsessed with the target. Her priority is to run freely, execute the race well and see how fast she can go.

Her European triumph was particularly impressive because it came after a dramatic semifinal. Werro was knocked to the track after being clipped but managed to finish the race and was subsequently allowed to compete in the final. She later credited work with her mental coach for helping her overcome the difficult circumstances before producing her championship-winning performance.

Werro said the incident ultimately strengthened her confidence, turning a painful setback into extra motivation for the final.

Broeders-Bol, meanwhile, arrives in Lausanne full of confidence after matching the Dutch 800m record with her 1:55.54 bronze-medal performance in Birmingham. The time equalled Ellen van Langen's national record, which had stood since 1991.

The 26-year-old also helped the Netherlands win the women's 4x400m relay, further highlighting her remarkable first season over two laps. She admitted her rapid progress has exceeded expectations and said she is enjoying the challenge of improving with every race.

With Werro chasing history and Broeders-Bol continuing her breakthrough season, Friday's Lausanne 800m promises to be one of the meeting's major attractions. The event is the 12th stop of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League series as athletes battle for valuable points ahead of the Brussels final.

Audrey Werro Targets Historic 800m World Record

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