After an impressive performance in Stockholm last weekend, where she secured third place with a time of 11.05 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Sweden, 26-year-old Patrizia van der Weken is set for another high-profile appearance in the 100m at Oslo's Diamond League event.
The line-up on Wednesday is expected to be less competitive than initially anticipated, as several athletes have withdrawn, possibly due to the cool temperatures of 15°C and rain showers, which are less than ideal for sprinters. Nevertheless, van der Weken is determined to replicate or improve on her Stockholm performance, even as she faces a strong field that includes Olympic champion Julien Alfred (Saint Lucia) and Amy Hunt (UK), who finished just ahead of her at the weekend.
Van der Weken explains ahead of the race that the goal is to "achieve a good placing, compete strongly against the other girls, and to improve on some aspects that were not ideal in Stockholm". Regarding the weather conditions, she agrees that it will be a bit chilly, adding that, regardless, "everyone is in the same boat”"
This season, the athlete's Diamond League campaign is moving at a rapid pace, with just three days separating the Stockholm and Oslo meetings. Such a busy competition schedule brings with it a certain degree of travel stress.
The sprinter explains that Diamond League meetings always entail a bit of pressure, as "there is a highly competitive field and a lot of eyes are on you". Nevertheless, to her, that is "part of the package when you choose to compete at this level", adding that she still enjoys it every time and hopes to keep improving from race to race.
Van der Weken has earned her place in the world's top athletics events thanks to her strong performances in recent years. She currently sits 14th in the world rankings. Her manager Lina Simons, who has represented the Luxembourgish sprinter since 2024, highlights that Van der Weken's achievements in indoor competitions have also played a role in her rise.
Simons points out that her international indoor medals and her impressive indoor time of 7.01 seconds act as proof to show organisers that she can run even faster outdoors than her current best of 11.00 seconds. She adds that Patrizia has consistently delivered top-five finishes or better in Diamond League meetings, which is another strong argument for inviting her to competitions.
