Karsten Warholm, the star in Paris

Perfect timing. Positioned less than 5 weeks before the start of the 2019 Worlds in Doha (27 September to 6 October), the MEETING de PARIS promises to be the MUST meeting on the road to the capital of Qatar. On Saturday 24 August, the French leg of the IAAF Diamond League will offer the public at the Charléty Stadium a line-up which promises a bountiful crop of stellar performances such as Karsten Warholm in 400m hurdles.

The reigning world champion and world number 1 this season in the 400m hurdles, Karsten Warholm unquestionably deserves his place among the list of star attractions at the MEETING de PARIS 2019. Indeed, the Norwegian is enjoying the best season of his career, twice over breaking this season’s European record (47”33 in Oslo then 47”12 in London), which was previously held by Stéphane Diagana. Competing in the French capital last year, he secured 3rd place in a race dominated by his Qatari rival Abderrahman Samba (46’’98, Asian and Meeting record). This year, Karsten Warholm will be lining up as one of the outright favourites at the Charléty Stadium.

An explosive women’s 100m

Elsewhere, the density of the line-up makes it very difficult to tip the potential winners. The women’s 100m is shaping up to be a remake of the 2017 edition, where the Jamaican Elaine Thompson took victory in 10’’91 ahead of Marie-Josée Ta Lou (10’’98) from the Ivory Coast. The two young women have got their season off to a flying start: 10’’73 for Elaine Thompson on 21 June in Kingston, 10’’93 for Marie-Josée Ta Lou on 5 July in Lausanne. Strong stuff. However, the race isn’t just about one duel. The Dutch athlete Dafne Schippers (11’’04 in Lausanne), and above all the American Teahna Daniels, 22, American champion this season (11’’00 on 8 June in Austin), are not in the habit of making do with a supporting role. It’s set to be explosive here too.