Luxembourg sprinter Patrizia Van der Weken begins her outdoor season on Wednesday in Savona, Italy.
On the 100 metres, the Luxembourg Sportswoman of the Year will compete against indoor world champion Zaynab Dosso of Italy. Both sprinters have virtually the same personal best over the distance, with a slight edge for Van der Weken: 11.00 seconds compared to 11.02. The 26-year-old Luxembourg athlete is highly motivated as the competitive phase resumes following a long, intensive preparation period that included training sessions in Turkey and South Africa, as well as sessions at home.
Together with her coach Arnaud Stark, Van der Weken has meticulously prepared for the upcoming summer season. Her 2025 campaign, hampered by injuries, did not unfold as one might have expected following an exceptional indoor season, during which she won two bronze medals – one at the European Championships and one at the World Championships. This makes it all the more interesting to see whether Luxembourg's current top athlete will be able to clock a time below the symbolic 11-second barrier.
Until 4 July, her competition schedule includes events in Morocco, Sweden, Norway, Doha, and the United States. Thanks to her performances, Van der Weken has become a sought-after athlete for Golden League meetings. Her campaign begins on Wednesday at 4.15pm, followed by the final at 5.25pm.
