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The 2024 edition of the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris was truly magical thanks to the unforgettable world records secured by Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump) and Faith Kipyegon (1,500 m), and the great slew of excellent performances posted by the French athletes, which resulted in no fewer than three national records. Among them was the time of 1’41’’61 set by Gabriel Tual in the most splendid 800 m in history, which saw ultimate victory go to Algerian Djamel Sedjati (1’41’’56), ahead of the Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1’41’’58). It was a memorable performance for the middle-distance runner (US Talence), European champion just a few weeks earlier and absolutely ‘over the moon’ at the finish after racking up a sky-high pace, which enabled him to demolish the time set by Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of 1’42’’53.
It will likely be a similar scenario at the start of the double-lap of the track for Bernard Mossant’s student on Friday 20 June at Charléty. Indeed, the 27-year-old athlete has been preparing hard for the first major meeting of the summer season, skipping the indoor competition in order to link together a series of training sessions in Monte Gordo (Portugal) and then Potchefstroom (South Africa). He has set his sights on the World Championships in Tokyo (13 to 21 September), where he’ll be a targeting his
first world medal.
“Last year’s race is etched on my memory and you can rely on me to give it everything I’ve got again, promises the double France Elite champion. Beyond the performance aspect, this time I’m going to try to hunt down victory by benefiting from the support of the public. My preparation over the winter has been ideal, I’m hungry for competition and I’m hoping to be in great shape in late June for the Meeting de Paris. ”
Bonnin in another league
Marie-Julie Bonnin has already sampled the delights of global recognition, and on the highest step of the podium no less, with victory in the Indoor Worlds in Nankin in late March. As such, she will likely soar in the Paris arena, carried along by her brand-new status as the first French athlete in history to be victorious in the pole vault competition at these championships in Charléty, in what will be her second participation in the Wanda Diamond League Meeting de Paris. Her debut was in 2023, when she was just 21 years old: “I have an excellent recollection of it, even though I only cleared a single jump set at 4.31 m, recalls the European Indoor bronze medallist. There was a fantastic atmosphere around the jumping pit, with a big crowd who were really driving us forward. The benefit of having completed my competition so much earlier than the other women was that I was able to make the most of the time I had to take loads of photos with the spectators! ”
This time, the pole-vaulter coached by Damiel Dossevi at the stadium in Bordeaux looks poised to join the world’s elite at the highest level and, if she’s performing well on the day, she could even be in with a chance of a top 3 performance. “The winter season has been incredible so I’m now keen to confirm how much I have managed to raise my game outdoors, warns Marie-Julie Bonnin. The goal is to make the most of the Meeting de Paris, and all the other competitions I take part in, to compete against the world’s top pole-vaulters before Tokyo.” Come what may, with her infectious good humour and passion for sharing, France’s joint record holder (4.75 m) is guaranteed to want a big stack of photos with her fans.