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Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump) : “ I’m obviously glad to be back in Paris, this is a very special place and a great memory to me. I beat my first World Record here and I hope it will not be the last. I also won the Olympic Games in Paris. I hope that something special is coming on Friday. I don’t like the word ‘’pressure’’, I focus on my jumps and my feelings. I want to do all my best and give great memories to the spectators in the stadium on Friday, whatever the result is. It will be a good vibe. I hope to improve myself and jump higher than 2 m. I still have work to do until the World Champs, the most important competition this year. Every competition is a way to know what we should do better for the future. I’m feeling good, my body and mind are ready to fight and ready to jump. “
Lamecha Girma (3000 m steeplechase) : “ I’m very happy to be in Paris, every time I come here, I feel like home in this city. After falling in Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ final, my feelings were very hard. My head was hurting for a long time, even in training. It took 3-4 months for me to recover. I had to see several doctors they said I needed to take a long rest and that is what I did. I was scared at some point that I would not be able to run anymore. I took it slowly and I was improving progressively. I started progressively to increase intensity in my training. After that, I was able to get back and I’m very happy to be in a good enough shape to compete and moreover to be healthy. I’m proud to have come back from this shock. “
Bryce Hoppel (800 m) : “ I’m in a good place in training, and I’m definitely ready to run fast here in Paris. It’s a great opportunity to get a good time, 1’42’’ or 1’41’’. It’s very hard to plan a long season with World championships in September, but having regular great competitions like Diamond League meets helps to keep my body fit and sharp. It’s crazy how guys are running fast at each meet these years, even just in the US, you have to bring the best of you in every race with this incredible competitors. I’m excited and eager to participate to the show on Friday night. “
Gabriel Tual (800 m): “Given the competitors and times they’ve posted at the start of the season, I think it’s going to be a very quick race. With the current density of the line-up, the races won in a time of 1’44’’ will become few and far between. I’m in good shape even though it’s still the start of the season. We’ll see where that takes me. My personal best last year in Charléty broke down some mental barriers. I see things differently now. I get less stressed and I constantly push myself. I’m going to try to use the energy from the stadium and convert it to the track. The louder it is, the faster I’ll go!”
Josh Hoey (800 m) : “ 2025 has been a great year so far. With my coaches, we’ve been trying to take step by step. Tomorrow is another opportunity to show what I’m able to do on the track and to prove myself against a very tough field of runners. I want to make the most of it. 2024 was a build for us, we focused on getting stronger throughout the year. It was good to keep that momentum for 2025 but it’s been definitely a lot of up and downs this season, it’s been difficult to manage all the trainings. That’s the standard of the highest level of competitions. I definitely feel pressure with that win in the world indoor championships, but I’ve learned to never give up. I never take anything for granted. Each race, successful or not, is a preparation for the big competitions coming at the end of the season. I feel ready to run fast.”
Marileidy Paulino (400 m) : “ It’s been a packed season so far for me, but our focus is on Tokyo. I have that goal in mind in every competition I take part in the building of my season. I work very hard to be where I’m at, and I know that people in athletics always enjoy the show and the excitement. I’m confident that I will be able to stay the star of the show. I’m away from my family for 3 or 4 months every year, this is a big sacrifice for me, but I know why I’m doing this. Grand Slam Track was a great event, to work on my speed. It is very important to assess that part of your race for a 400 m runner, to be able to finish races very strong. I feel very good, I’m very pleased to be in Paris. Running in front of a full stadium is always something exciting. Having a strong opposition, with girls like Salwa Eid Naser, is really important if both of us want to run sub 47’’. “
Salwa Eid Naser (400 m) : “ I don’t have a specific tactic in mind, I just try to win every race. Coming here, I’ve training really hard, I’m confident I can win, but this is just a race. 400 m is a mental game, Marileidy is a great athlete, she has a great finish, like me. You can be in a good shape and mess up your game by starting too fast or too slow. You have to find the good balance. I think we are going to put on a great performance on Friday, and the best will win. The plan for me and for everyone is to win in Tokyo. My time last week gave me a boost of confidence. I don’t think this is too soon to run fast, if you work hard to keep your shape. Hopefully, I can run faster in Tokyo. Running the 200 m during the Grand Slam Track was great, I worked my speed and it was really fun.”
Grant Holloway (110 m hurdles) : “ I think that Paris is one the best Diamond Leagues, not only fur hurdlers. This track and stadium always do a great job. Paris means a lot. Last August, I won my first Olympic gold. I cherish this memories. I ran here in 0223 and it propelled me to Budapest where I was able to get my 3rd world champs title. Training has been good, even if I took 2 months off because I was not at my full fitness. Understanding that the goal was not to win all the Diamond League races was the key. I’m definitely looking forward to compete with these strong competitors, to see where I’m at and also prepare myself for the US championships. I’m lucky enough to have a bye, this is a blessing, I don’t really have to peak there to be able to be at 100 % in Tokyo at the World champs. I want to execute my race and put on a great show. In a word : attack. None of us is afraid of anybody. It’s gonna be a fish brawl, as always. You have to be careful even in the first round.”
Trey Cunningham (110 m haies) : « A chaque compétition, je m’attends à gagner, comme tout le monde. Sinon, il faut juste faire autre chose. Je suis content d’avoir pu courir vite l’an passé, et j’espère aller au moins aussi vite cette année. Après, sur une course de haies, il y a au moins douze occasions de tout faire foirer. Il faut garder son rythme, tout peut arriver à tout moment. On passe beaucoup plus de haies à l’entraînement qu’en compétition, justement pour travailler cet équilibre et ce rythme. Moi, j’aime courir, beaucoup. J’adorais le circuit NCAA, pour ça, on courait tous les quinze jours. Là, on court trois fois par semaine, mais beaucoup moins au total sur une année. Je suis donc très excité à l’idée de pouvoir courir vendredi. »
Katie Moon (pole vault): “ I hope I’ve been a role model for young athletes, on and off the track. I still love jumping high. We are on the same field for hours and hours, it would be terribly boring if we do not have love for each other with other pole vaulters. Having fun with people you are competing against is awesome. I feel I’m in great shape. My numbers on the runway are the best possible. I’m very happy with how it’s going, it’s a very long season. I hope that the conditions will be great on Friday to have e good opportunity to jump high, with a strong bench of competitors. I just want to see how high I can jump. I’m way less stressed during the competitions I was during my young years, it’s easier now. I’ve proven myself what I was capable, overpassing the doubts I had for so long.”
Marie-Julie Bonnin (pole vault): “The three competitions I’ve taken part in have enabled me to make some adjustments and nail some good jumps. Now, I just have to learn to take risks. I’m capable of jumping higher quickly. I hope that’s how things will play out tomorrow. It’ll be important not to let up and to really go for the jumps like I did over the winter. When you’re a pole vaulter, you really enjoy jumping here in the crazy atmosphere of Paris. I’m trying to deal as best I can with my new status after securing the world indoor champion title. I’m keen to get another gold medal so it’s an added source of motivation.”
Sandi Morris (pole vault) : “I’ve been on a journey this year, almost like the phoenix rising from the ashes. I still expect big bars from myself, but at the sime time, I have that small light in mind that I need to keep control of what I do if I want to last long in sport. There’s so much going on behind the scenes that fans don’t see. We are all going through it. I really enjoy life at the fullest. I’m probably a little bit too obsessed with pole vault, but it’s a technical event, there is always a part of it you can improve to jump higher. I’m still learning to step away from that, because it’s important to have things to keep you alive outside athletics. “
Agathe Guillemot (1,500 m): “I’m gradually getting in shape. You can’t rush things with a long season like this. It’s going to be a great race, especially as it’s led by my former flatmate Clara (Liberman), which is fairly reassuring. I’ve returned from the meeting in Rome filled with confidence as I had good intentions there. I only have fond memories of the competition here in Paris thanks to my French records at Charléty and then the Stade de France. It almost feels normal to be here. I let my emotions get the better of me a bit in Tokyo.”
Hélène Parisot (200 m): “My 100 m record really bodes well. I competed in the relay at Charléty in 2023. It was a crazy atmosphere! It’s a new milestone to take part in the individual competition at a Diamond League meeting in my home country. My last 200 m was during the Paris Games, which feels symbolic! I’ve raised my game this year in terms of my start, the acceleration phase and the transition. What’s great is that it still feels like a journey of discovery. I still have the same eagerness and the same hunger.”
Jimmy Gressier (5,000 m): “The 5,000 m no longer scares me. I make a mental note of the distance both physically and mentally with every race. I feel confident enough to line up at the start without being at 100%. I’m now capable of running 13’00’’ every time. I know I can still perform well. I’m fifteen seconds shy of the best African runners. That’s still a lot but I’m continuing to make progress. The aim will be to enjoy myself. We’re lucky to have a Diamond League meeting in France and I’m eager to be part of the festivities too.”
Alice Finot (3,000 m steeplechase): “I feel in really great shape. It’s all systems go. I’m in good health and training has gone well. I’m feeling pretty confident and happy to be here. I won and I beat my record in Montreuil. Things work out when you’re on home turf. That’s one of my core beliefs. I want to start taking more risks when running. Improving on my personal bests is no longer my goal. I don’t have anything to prove now. I’ve proved myself enough. I’m eager to go and play with the front of the pack for a different experience. I want to score points in the Diamond League to qualify for the final in Zurich.”
Azeddine Habz (1,500 m): “I was really confident in Rome and managed to handle the effort well. I’ve raised my game in terms of the tactical aspect. I feel confident coming into Paris. I’ve satisfied the minimum requirement and now I want to hunt down the French record. 3’29’’ is a big time. My rivals? If I were them, I’d probably opt to follow the guy that’s in shape. It’ll be a race that’s all about times and I’m pleased to be lining up for the start. After the meeting in Eugene (5 July), I’ll have a short break before launching into a new cycle to prepare for the Diamond League final and the Worlds in Tokyo, which are my main objectives.”
Margot Chevrier (pole vault): “I would never go back to who I was before, whether it be as an athlete or a person. You learn a massive amount about yourself (after her serious injury, editor’s note). What it does is it fires up the competitive streak in me and the person who loves that aspect. This morning, I was just happy to be with the poles at the airport, whereas for years that was a drag! I’ve learnt to appreciate moments like that. I love the journey. I still need to put in more time and work but now I can get my head round what’s to come in the future. I’m setting myself goals. I need an incentive to go training but not to do 4.72 m, because that would make no sense. There are steps to tick off. Tomorrow the first jump on the programme is 4.23 m. My season’s best is 4.15 m. As a result, my goal is to ace the warm-up to clear it.”