It’s barely been a week since the world witnessed the Olympics, the biggest sporting event on earth. The biggest stars from 32 different sports gathered in Paris, to get a shot at becoming undisputed. Yet, even before the buzz around Paris 2024 could subside, the track and field world is already geared up for its next big event, the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League.

Despite the quick turnaround, several Olympic gold medalists have signed up for the annual international meet. Letsile Tebogo, the first man from Botswana to win an Olympic gold medal, is ready to add to his 200m legacy. Meanwhile, mixed relay gold medalist Femke Bol is looking to redeem herself after winning bronze in the 400m hurdles. However, for every champion, just as many, if not more Olympic medalists are missing from the competitor’s lists.

Paris Olympics Men’s medalists missing from the Lausanne Diamond League

Shortly after the Olympics ended on August 11, the Track & Field Gazette on X (formerly Twitter), started uploading updated event lists on the social media platform. While the line-ups look competitive, it soon became clear that some of the biggest stars in track and field will not be traveling to Switzerland. Immediately noticeable was Noah Lyles.

While the man who beat him in Paris is ready for another 200m race, Lyles isn’t. After coming down with COVID-19 at Paris 2024, the 27-year-old raced despite falling sick. The defending sprint double world champion earned bronze for his troubles. However, after just recovering from the viral fever’s effect, he isn’t ready to race. Fans may not see NoJo on the tracks for the rest of the year.

During his appearance in the Nightcap Podcast, Lyles claimed that his season has come to an end. After making a statement by winning the 100m gold, Lyles won’t be there to race Tebogo at the Lausanne Diamond League. The American’s teammate, 200m silver medalist Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bednarek is also absent from the loss of 200m sprinters.

Thankfully, Fred Kerley and Erriyon Knighton will be there to give the Botswana champion a run for his money. Those waiting for a rematch between Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Canada’s Marco Arop, and Djamel Sedjati, will have to continue waiting. While the gold and silver medalists are part of the 800m line-up, the Algerian Sedjati isn’t on the list.

It’s the same story in the Men’s 1500m event. Jakob Ingebrigtsen will get the chance to avenge his loss against the newly crowned king of the 1500m Cole Hocker. Unfortunately, silver medalist Josh Kerr, and bronze medalist Yared Nuguse’s absence has taken away from the excitement at the Lausanne Diamond League.

Only Olympics men’s event line-ups remain intact. The men’s 100mH Olympic medalist trio will once again lock horns in Lausanne. Gold and silver medalist Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts of Team USA will once again face one another and Jamaican rival Rasheed Broadbell. Finally, Paris 2024 gold winner Quincy Hall will lead the men’s 400m flat.

Paris silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith and bronze winner Muzala Samukonga will be there for the reattach against Hall. Now we come to the women’s Olympic medalists at the Lausanne Diamond League.

Major Women’s Track and Field superstars who are not on the list

Although Femke Bol hopes to return to winning gold in the 400m, she won’t be able to avenge her loss to either of the Team USA stars. World record holder Sidney McLaughlin-Levrone won’t be there to defend her world record. Her teammate Anna Cockrell, who stunned Bol in the Olympics will also be absent. However, this might give Bol additional motivation to take a shot at McLaughlin-Levrone’s world record.

American hurdler and the 100mH champion Masai Russell won’t attend the Lausanne Diamond League either. However, her absence will give silver winner Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and bronze medalist Cyréna Samba-Mayela a chance to stand atop the podium. Finally, we come to arguably the worst-hit division at the 2024 Diamond League in Switzerland.

The entire Paris Olympics 100m podium won’t be competing at the homes of the International Olympic Committee. Julien Alfred, who won the historic gold medal for Saint Lucia, is not part of the list. Former favorite, and silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson also remains absent. However, unlike Noah Lyles, Richardson hasn’t given any reasons behind her absence.

Finally, bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson from Team USA also won’t compete at the upcoming August 22 editing of the Diamond League. Thankfully Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, who suffered a shocking hamstring injury during the 100m sprint in Paris, is looking to bounce back in Lausanne.

Many fans may be disappointed looking at the list of competitors for the upcoming meet. However, it’s important to consider that not all athletes are ready to compete so soon after racing in multiple events at Paris 2024.