Audrey Werro is closing in on history. The 22-year-old Swiss runner clocked 1 minute, 53.80 seconds in Paris on Sunday, the third-fastest women's 800 meters ever and the best time since 1983. It marks the second time this month she has achieved that distinction, intensifying her pursuit of Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson for the sport's oldest world record.
Werro's performance in Paris stands as the quickest 800-meter time in over four decades. Her trademark celebration—a roar with hands raised like claws—is inspired by her father's advice to be less shy on the track and more like a lion, a persona she has fully embraced during this breakout campaign.
The race positions Werro as the primary challenger to Hodgkinson's dominance. The British star holds the world lead this season and is the reigning Olympic gold medalist, but Werro's back-to-back historic marks suggest the gap is narrowing. No source provided specific standings or upcoming meet details.
What comes next remains uncertain from available reports. The 800-meter world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, has stood for 42 years—the oldest in the sport—and now faces its most serious threat in a generation. Both Werro and Hodgkinson are expected to compete at major meets this summer.
"She has said the gesture was inspired by her father urging her to be less shy in races and more like a lion," according to the Yahoo Sports report, highlighting the personal motivation driving Werro's ascent.