European 800m champion Audrey Werro is setting her sights on one of athletics' most elusive records as she prepares for the Diamond League meeting in Zurich. The record, held by Jarmila Kratochvilova since 1983 with a time of 1:53.28, has stood for 43 years amidst controversy regarding doping practices in Czechoslovakia, although Kratochvilova herself has never failed a doping test.

At just 22 years old, Werro has already made waves in the athletics world, clocking a 1:53.80 in Paris this June, propelling her to third place on the all-time list and bringing her within half a second of Kratochvilova's mark.

Things have happened really fast,

This year, Werro has achieved three of the 10 fastest times in history, showcasing her rapid improvement.

She attributes her success to having finished university a year ago, allowing her to dedicate more time to training and competition. "Now I'm just focused on athletics, and I just have more time for the competition, the training, the recovery, everything," she explained.

Werro's commitment to mental preparation over the past two years has also contributed to her performance, as she continues to channel the spirit of a lion, inspired by her father's advice to overcome her childhood timidity on the track.