Men
200 m
The African continent on the front line
In the absence of the American sprinters, who are just coming out the other side of some gruelling Trials, the usual contenders will be striving for a prestigious victory in the French capital. As such, the half-lap of the track might well see the African athletes shine with Tarsis Orogot from Uganda (19’’75) and Cheickna Traore from the Ivory Coast (19’’93) expected to be at the front of the pack. French runners Pablo Matéo (20’’03) and Ryan Zézé (20’’18) will also be a force to be reckoned with.
800 m
Wanyonyi and a train of Blues vying for contention
World number two Emmanuel Wanyonyi really packed a punch during the Kenyan Trials by posting a fabulous 1’41’’70 at altitude. His performance makes him the third fastest in the world of all time behind David Rudisha and Wilson Kipketer. The French runners, led by European champion Gabriel Tual, are at the peak of fitness right now, and will be keen to keep pace with him. Benjamin Robert, Yanis Meziane and Azeddine Habz have the potential to perform well too. Also worth keeping an eye on: Algerian Djamel Sedjati (1’43’’23), silver medallist at the Worlds in 2022, and Kenyan Arron Cheminingwa (1’43’’55).
3,000 m
McSweyn and Krop on track for a sub-7’30’’ time?
This is yet another suspenseful race on paper with a number of contenders for victory. Australian Stewart McSweyn, who is used to shouldering the responsibility at the head of the peloton, is the only competitor to have already run a sub-7’30’’ time over the course of his career with a reference 7’28’’02. Kenyan Jacob Krop (7’30’’07), bronze medallist in the 5,000 m at the Worlds in Budapest, is capable of matching him, whilst Frenchman Benoît Campion will reap the benefits of racing here to rack up a great deal of valuable experience.
110 m hurdles
Zhoya to challenge the Americans
Coming out of what were incredibly intense Trials, no fewer than five US hurdlers have landed in the capital, with some excellent summer times: Cordell Tinch (13’’03), Jamal Britt (13’’07), Dylan Beard (13’’10), Trey Cunningham (13’’12) and Michael Dickson (13’’19). A host of strong adversaries then for the newly crowned double champion of France, Sasha Zhoya, who made a promising comeback in Angers on Sunday with a time of 13’’32. Frenchman Raphaël Mohamed and Romain Lecoeur will also be key contenders along with European champion, Italian Lorenzo Simonelli (13’’05).
400 m hurdles
dos Santos against the clock
The Brazilian, world champion in 2022, posts an impressive performance every time he goes out on the track. He ran 46’’63 in Oslo (Norway) making him the second-best performer in the world last year, behind American Rai Benjamin (46’’46) but ahead of Norwegian Karsten Warholm (46’’70). With this magical trio, the 400 m hurdles remains one of the most exciting events on the circuit, and dos Santos will have the opportunity to really make an impression this Sunday. The latter’s training partner, French hurdler Wilfried Happio, who has upped his game just at the right time (48’’01), will be keen to excel on home soil, whilst Jamaican Malik James-King (47’’42) will also need to be closely monitored.
3,000 m steeplechase
Indecision reigns over the fences
The men’s steeplechase is set to be wide open, just one year on from the world record set in Paris by Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma (7’52’’11). On paper, Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot has an advantage with a time of 8’07’’38, but he’ll need to keep an eye out for Tunisian Mohamed Jhinaoui (8’10’’41). The only Frenchman on the start line will be Louis Gilavert, who will have a great opportunity to improve on his personal best (8’13’’47).
Pole vault
King Duplantis is back
Three years after his last performance, Mondo Duplantis is making his comeback in Charléty. As such, the Swedish athlete, who set a new world record of 6.24 m in April, is poised to strike again in each and every one of his competitions. As a result, the pole vault competition will be under intense scrutiny, especially given the line-up. Indeed, in addition to the boss of the discipline, there will be a star-studded cast of French jumpers, Thibaut Collet, Renaud Lavillenie, Anthony Ammirati and Robin Emig, as well as a series of international high-flyers including American Sam Kendricks and Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis, who have jumped clear of 5.90 m this summer.
Javelin
Vadlejch, a track record that speaks volumes
Reigning Olympic number two, world bronze medallist in 2022 and 2023, and European champion in Rome in June, the Czech with a huge track record, Jakub Vadlejch, ranks among the favourites with his throw of 88.65 m over the summer. German Julian Weber, runner-up in the Italian capital, and Grenadian Anderson Peters, world champion in 2019 and 2022, will also be keen to make a point.
Triathlon
Mayer on home turf
The triathlon has become an unmissable meeting in the pre-programme for the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris under the leadership of Kevin Mayer and the French Athletics Federation (FFA), event organiser. The world record holder in the decathlon, who achieved the minimum standard required to compete in the Olympics during the European championships in Rome, will naturally be on the track in Charléty. He’ll be competing in the shot put, before deciding on his participation in the long jump and 110 m hurdles, which will depend on how he feels on the day. His compatriot Téo Bastien and Belgian Jente Hauttekeete, 8th in the European championships in Rome, will be on hand to give him his cue.
Women
100 m
Look-out for a photo finish!
With seven sprinters within eight-hundredths of a second of one another on the starting list, a photo finish may be required to designate a winner. Gambian runner Gina Bass (10’’93) and American Tamara Clark (10’’95) are the only ones to have run a sub-11’’ this year, so they’ll have a slight edge over the competition. Gémima Joseph, who has reduced her record time to 11’’01 in 2024, will be keen to join them under this legendary benchmark.
400 m
Kaczmarek v Paulino
An extremely enticing face-off is on the cards in the lap of the track between Dominican Marileidy Paulino (49’’30), double world champion, and Polish runner Natalia Kaczmarek (48’’98), runner-up in Budapest. The latter ran a sub-49’’ time in Rome for the first time in her career to bag the European title. American Alexis Holmes (49’’78) and Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver (50’’08) will also be worth watching, whilst Amandine Brossier (51’’30) dreams of finally running a sub-51’’.
1,500 m
Kipyegon against the clock
Faith Kipyegon is back in the stadium where she struck gold after setting a new 5,000 m world record last year at Charléty. This time, she’ll be competing in the 1,500 m, another distance where she has posted the best performance of all time in 3’49’’11. The author of a massive 3’53’’98 at altitude during the Kenyan Trials, she might well set the stadium alight again this Sunday. Ethiopian Freweyni Hailu (3’55’’48) and Briton Laura Muir (3’56’’35) will try to hang on for as long as possible to the double Olympic champion and four-time world champion. Agathe Guillemot (4’02’’75) has a golden opportunity to run her first-ever sub-four-minute time and secure the French record (3’59’’76).
3,000 m steeplechase
A top-class trio
There is set to be a battle royal in the steeplechase with a line-up that includes Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech, world record holder in 8’44’’32, and Bahraini Winfred Yavi, reigning world champion. High hopes then of a time of way under nine minutes at the finish. With an entire stadium rooting for her, European champion Alice Finot could well be a fly in the ointment for her rivals. If she’s really on form, her French record (9’06’’15) is sure to be under threat.
Long jump
Mihambo and the glitterati
European champion Malaika Mihambo (7.22 m) forms top of the bill in a competition reminiscent of a world final. Indeed, the German jumper will have to contend with some stiff opposition, notably in the form of Bulgarian Plamena Mitkova (6.97 m), European number two Italian Larissa Iapichino (6.94 m) and American Quanesha Burks (6.86 m). Also of note is that Serbian Ivana Spanovic will be making her comeback in Paris. Of the French contingent, Hilary Kpatcha (6.88 m) and European number two in the heptathlon Auriana Lazraq Khlass (6.35 m) will also be worth monitoring.
High jump
Mahuchikh and Olyslagers back together again
A duel at very high altitude is expected between Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Australian Nicola Olyslagers, who respectively cleared 2.04 m and 2.03 m this season. The former is the reigning world champion, whilst the latter was crowned world indoor champion this year. Four other competitors hold records equal to or greater than two metres, including fellow Australian, Eleanor Patterson, who topped the world ranking in 2022. It augurs well for a fabulous spectacle this Sunday!
Discus
World elite vibes
The discus competition will be the theatre for a line-up worthy of an Olympic final. With American Valarie Allman (70.89 m during the Trials) against Croatian Sandra Elkasevic (ex-Perkovic), we’re on track for a classic duel between the Olympic champion 2021 and the seven-time European champion, who has just secured another continental crown in Rome. German Marike Steinacker (67.31 m) will also be keen to join the fray, whilst French throwers Mélina Robert-Michon and Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba will have the benefit of the support of a home crowd.
Mixed
Mixed hammer throw
A number of big players
For the third year in a row, the French Athletics Federation is adding a mixed competition of hammer throwing to the pre-meeting programme. A rare opportunity for the discipline’s specialists to perform in such a prestigious setting. As a result, several key players have made the trip to Paris in both the men’s and women’s categories, notably including the reigning Olympic champion, Polish thrower Wojciech Nowicki, his compatriot Pawel Fajdek, five-time world champion, Ukrainian Mikhaylo Kokhan, bronze medallist during the European championships in June, Hungarian Bence Halsz, third in the Worlds 2023, as well as Americans Brooke Andersen, world champion 2022, and Janee’ Kassanavoid, world number two in Budapest. France’s chances sit atop the shoulders of Quentin Bigot, Rose Loga and Alexandra Tavernier.
