The French contingent, choice hosts at Charléty

Last year at the Charléty Stadium, Benjamin Robert became the twelfth French athlete to secure victory in the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris since the start of the 21st century. He posted a personal best time of 1’43’’75, thanks to a fantastic and spectacular home straight. “It was crazy, absolutely mind-blowing,” recalls the 25-year-old athlete. The race represented a ‘paradigm shift’ in his young career. “My whole status changed and that’s exactly what I was after, he admits. From that moment on, I sensed that the other athletes, the umpires and the public in France viewed me differently. Strangers came up to me to congratulate me during the following competition. This year, I think even more will be expected of me.”

One major difference compared with the 2022 edition is that he was able to pass by virtually incognito, whilst Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, world champion in 2017, was stopped in his tracks every five metres to have his photo taken or sign an autograph, and enjoyed a standing ovation when the athletes were presented to the spectators. “Witnessing that, I said to myself: Ah ha, so that’s what it’s like racing on home soil,” explains the European Indoor number two. Running on home soil, in front of family, can add pressure and hence tension, but on the flipside of that it can also make things more exciting and make you more daring. This year’s Meeting de Paris will be a kind of dry run prior to Paris 2024.”

Mindful of Paris 2024 and the ranking

For the past two years, with a view to the Olympic Games, the French Athletics Federation has put in place a strategy aimed at maximising the presence of France’s athletes during the French leg of one of the most prestigious athletics circuits. “Our main driver is to give them an opportunity to do battle with international competition in Paris and to familiarise themselves with this exceptional setting, though we’re well aware that conditions at the Stade de France in a year’s time will be rather different, explains Mehdi Baala, director of the French teams. Participating at the Meeting de Paris also provides the perfect opportunity to boost your ranking, the qualification system for the major championships, which is complementary to the minimum requirement, because the Wanda Diamond League meetings earn the most points.”

After the forty-six Frenchies competing in 2022, there will be more or less the same number on Charléty’s blue track on 9 June. Solely the British contingent, with their meeting in Birmingham, are doing slightly better in terms of national representation within the scope of the Wanda Diamond League. “Look out, the athletes we’ve got competing all have the ability to perform well and have earned their place on the start list,” explains Mehdi Baala. The aim is that they’ll be competing against athletes of a similar level.” 

A choice of lanes

In addition to the number of entries, the French Athletics Federation is “trying to make intelligent choices” to get athletes competing with each other in great conditions. “For example, in the 200 m, 400 m or 400 m hurdles, we’re trying to position them in lanes 7 or 8, rather than 1 or 2,” explains the world number two in the 1,500 m in 2003. For the second year running, the hammer competition in the preliminary programme, outside Wanda Diamond League, has been arranged with the aim of enhancing the prestige of the discipline’s specialists, who are currently very much in favour in France, spearheaded by the likes of Quentin Bigot (back in training and hence absent this year), Yann Chaussinand and Alexandra Tavernier.

With one year to go until the Olympic Games, another French victory in Paris would work wonders with this approach. Hurdlers Wilhem Belocian, Just Kwaou-Mathey and Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, the 400 m hurdles specialist Wilfried Happio, as well as Mélina Robert-Michon, who’s in great shape once more in the discus, have the potential to secure the top spots. Equally, we must not forget the world decathlon champion Kevin Mayer, who every time “surpasses himself in what is a fantastic stadium for our sport” and will be competing in a triathlon (outside Diamond League) that really appeals to his skills set - 110 m hurdles - long jump - shot put. For his part, Benjamin Robert is dreaming of a repeat performance: “To win once is great. But the toughest thing will be to repeat that. If I take a second win, that will prove that running on home soil enables me to surpass myself.”

French entries*

Men
110 m hurdles: Wilhem Belocian, Just Kwaou-Mathey, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, Aurel Manga and Dimitri Bascou
400 m hurdles: Wilfried Happio and Ludvy Vaillant
800 m: Benjamin Robert and Yanis Meziane
2 miles: Etienne Daguinos
3,000 m steeplechase: Djilali Bedrani
Long jump: Jules Pommery and Erwan Konaté

Women
200 m: Gemima Joseph
400 m: Amandine Brossier
800 m: Agnès Raharolahy
High jump: Nawal Meniker and Solène Gicquel
Pole vault: Margot Chevrier and Ninon Chapelle
Discus: Mélina Robert-Michon and Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba

Outside the Diamond League
Men’s hammer: Yann Chaussinand
Women’s hammer: Alexandra Tavernier and Rose Loga
Triathlon: Kevin Mayer, Makenson Gletty, Téo Bastien, Arthur Prévost and Luc Brewin

*Provisional list, subject to modifications