Switzerland's Audrey Werro moved even closer to Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing world 800m record of 1:53.28 with a sensational 1:53.80 clocking in the Paris Diamond League on Sunday (28) evening.
The race was billed as a world record attempt and while Werro fell just short of Kratochvilova's enduring mark which dates back to 1983, the rising Swiss star broke the 1:54-barrier for the second time in 2026.
After clocking 1:53.98 for a seismic victory over Olympic and European champion Keely Hodgkinson in Stockholm earlier this month, Werro inched even further up the world all-time list with another world lead of 1:53.80 to become the only athlete in history to break the 1:54-barrier for 800m on multiple occasions.
The long-striding Werro tracked the pacemaker Myrte van der Schoot who reached 400m in 55.35 before Werro cut loose from the pack with 300 metres remaining. After reaching 600m just outside record pace in 1:25.27, Werro closed quickly with a final 200m of 28.53 to stop the clock at 1:53.80 and give further notice that Kratochvilova's seemingly impenetrable world record could be surpassed soon.
"I had a really good indoor season and a really good start of an outdoor season. I feel that the biggest change in my life is the fact that I have become a professional athlete. I am no longer at school, and I must say it was tough to juggle both activities. Now, there is no excuse as I have all the time in the world to just focus on the training, recovering and the sport itself.
"Like many, I had my struggles, but now it is going well. I was not expecting to run this fast this season. These recent performances have really given me hope and built my confidence to what is coming next," said Werro.
Behind Werro, there was an almighty battle for the runner-up spot with Femke Broeders-Bol narrowly prevailing over Anais Bourgoin, both of whom were also rewarded with substantial lifetime bests.
In just her fourth race at the distance, Bol slashed more than one second off her lifetime best with a 1:55.60 clocking - just 0.06 shy of 1992 Olympic champion Ellen Van Langen’s long-standing Dutch record - while Bourgoin smashed the French record with 1:55.65 in third which previously stood at 1:56.53 to Patricia Djate in 1995.
Fastest 800m times in history
1:53.28 – Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) – 1983
1:53.43 – Nadezhda Olizarenko (URS) – 1980
1:53.80 – Audrey Werro (SUI) – 2026
1:53.98 – Audrey Werro (SUI) – 2026
1:54.01 – Pamela Jelimo (KEN) – 2008
1:54.25 – Caster Semenya (RSA) – 2018
1:54.33 – Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) – 2026
1:54.44 – Ana Fidelia Quirot (CUB) – 1989
1:54.45 – Audrey Werro (SUI) – 2026
1:54.60 – Caster Semenya (RSA) – 2018
2026 world 800m top list
1:53.80 – Audrey Werro (SUI)
1:54.33 – Keely Hodgkinson (GBR)
1:55.60 – Femke Broeders-Bol (NED)
1:55.65 – Anaïs Bourgoin (FRA)
1:55.93 – Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR)
1:56.83 – Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA)
1:56.85 – Sanu Jallow (GAM)
1:56.93 – Rénelle Lamote (FRA)
1:57.01 – Sarah Billings (AUS)
1:57.24 – Tsige Duguma (ETH)
Photos courtesy of James Rhodes
