Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump) : \u201c I\u2019m 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\u2019t like the word \u2018\u2019pressure\u2019\u2019, 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\u2019m feeling good, my body and mind are ready to fight and ready to jump. \u201c<\/p>\n
Lamecha Girma (3000 m steeplechase) : \u201c I\u2019m 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\u2019 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\u2019m very happy to be in a good enough shape to compete and moreover to be healthy. I\u2019m proud to have come back from this shock. \u201c<\/p>\n
Bryce Hoppel (800 m) : \u201c I\u2019m in a good place in training, and I\u2019m definitely ready to run fast here in Paris. It\u2019s a great opportunity to get a good time, 1\u201942\u2019\u2019 or 1\u201941\u2019\u2019. It\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019m excited and eager to participate to the show on Friday night. \u201c<\/p>\n
Gabriel Tual (800 m): \u201cGiven the competitors and times they\u2019ve posted at the start of the season, I think it\u2019s going to be a very quick race. With the current density of the line-up, the races won in a time of 1\u201944\u2019\u2019 will become few and far between. I\u2019m in good shape even though it\u2019s still the start of the season. We\u2019ll see where that takes me. My personal best last year in Charl\u00e9ty broke down some mental barriers. I see things differently now. I get less stressed and I constantly push myself. I\u2019m going to try to use the energy from the stadium and convert it to the track. The louder it is, the faster I\u2019ll go!\u201d<\/p>\n
Josh Hoey (800 m) : \u201c 2025 has been a great year so far. With my coaches, we\u2019ve been trying to take step by step. Tomorrow is another opportunity to show what I\u2019m 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\u2019s been definitely a lot of up and downs this season, it\u2019s been difficult to manage all the trainings. That\u2019s the standard of the highest level of competitions. I definitely feel pressure with that win in the world indoor championships, but I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marileidy Paulino (400 m) : \u201c It\u2019s 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\u2019m at, and I know that people in athletics always enjoy the show and the excitement. I\u2019m confident that I will be able to stay the star of the show. I\u2019m away from my family for 3 or 4 months every year, this is a big sacrifice for me, but I know why I\u2019m 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\u2019m 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\u2019\u2019. \u201c<\/p>\n
Salwa Eid Naser (400 m) : \u201c I don\u2019t have a specific tactic in mind, I just try to win every race. Coming here, I\u2019ve training really hard, I\u2019m 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\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grant Holloway (110 m hurdles) : \u201c 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\u2019m definitely looking forward to compete with these strong competitors, to see where I\u2019m at and also prepare myself for the US championships. I\u2019m lucky enough to have a bye, this is a blessing, I don\u2019t 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\u2019s gonna be a fish brawl, as always. You have to be careful even in the first round.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trey Cunningham (110 m haies) : \u00ab A chaque comp\u00e9tition, je m\u2019attends \u00e0 gagner, comme tout le monde. Sinon, il faut juste faire autre chose. Je suis content d\u2019avoir pu courir vite l\u2019an pass\u00e9, et j\u2019esp\u00e8re aller au moins aussi vite cette ann\u00e9e. Apr\u00e8s, sur une course de haies, il y a au moins douze occasions de tout faire foirer. Il faut garder son rythme, tout peut arriver \u00e0 tout moment. On passe beaucoup plus de haies \u00e0 l\u2019entra\u00eenement qu\u2019en comp\u00e9tition, justement pour travailler cet \u00e9quilibre et ce rythme. Moi, j\u2019aime courir, beaucoup. J\u2019adorais le circuit NCAA, pour \u00e7a, on courait tous les quinze jours. L\u00e0, on court trois fois par semaine, mais beaucoup moins au total sur une ann\u00e9e. Je suis donc tr\u00e8s excit\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019id\u00e9e de pouvoir courir vendredi. \u00bb<\/p>\n
Katie Moon (pole vault): \u201c I hope I\u2019ve 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\u2019m in great shape. My numbers on the runway are the best possible. I\u2019m very happy with how it\u2019s going, it\u2019s 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\u2019m way less stressed during the competitions I was during my young years, it\u2019s easier now. I\u2019ve proven myself what I was capable, overpassing the doubts I had for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marie-Julie Bonnin (pole vault): \u201cThe three competitions I\u2019ve 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\u2019m capable of jumping higher quickly. I hope that\u2019s how things will play out tomorrow. It\u2019ll be important not to let up and to really go for the jumps like I did over the winter. When you\u2019re a pole vaulter, you really enjoy jumping here in the crazy atmosphere of Paris. I\u2019m trying to deal as best I can with my new status after securing the world indoor champion title. I\u2019m keen to get another gold medal so it\u2019s an added source of motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sandi Morris (pole vault) : \u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019s so much going on behind the scenes that fans don\u2019t see. We are all going through it. I really enjoy life at the fullest. I\u2019m probably a little bit too obsessed with pole vault, but it\u2019s a technical event, there is always a part of it you can improve to jump higher. I\u2019m still learning to step away from that, because it\u2019s important to have things to keep you alive outside athletics. \u201c<\/p>\n
Agathe Guillemot (1,500 m): \u201cI\u2019m gradually getting in shape. You can\u2019t rush things with a long season like this. It\u2019s going to be a great race, especially as it\u2019s led by my former flatmate Clara (Liberman), which is fairly reassuring. I\u2019ve 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 Charl\u00e9ty 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Parisot (200 m): \u201cMy 100 m record really bodes well. I competed in the relay at Charl\u00e9ty in 2023. It was a crazy atmosphere! It\u2019s 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\u2019ve raised my game this year in terms of my start, the acceleration phase and the transition. What\u2019s great is that it still feels like a journey of discovery. I still have the same eagerness and the same hunger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jimmy Gressier (5,000 m): \u201cThe 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\u2019m now capable of running 13\u201900\u2019\u2019 every time. I know I can still perform well. I\u2019m fifteen seconds shy of the best African runners. That\u2019s still a lot but I\u2019m continuing to make progress. The aim will be to enjoy myself. We\u2019re lucky to have a Diamond League meeting in France and I\u2019m eager to be part of the festivities too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alice Finot (3,000 m steeplechase): \u201cI feel in really great shape. It\u2019s all systems go. I\u2019m in good health and training has gone well. I\u2019m feeling pretty confident and happy to be here. I won and I beat my record in Montreuil. Things work out when you\u2019re on home turf. That\u2019s 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\u2019t have anything to prove now. I\u2019ve proved myself enough. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Azeddine Habz (1,500 m): \u201cI was really confident in Rome and managed to handle the effort well. I\u2019ve raised my game in terms of the tactical aspect. I feel confident coming into Paris. I\u2019ve satisfied the minimum requirement and now I want to hunt down the French record. 3\u201929\u2019\u2019 is a big time. My rivals? If I were them, I\u2019d probably opt to follow the guy that\u2019s in shape. It\u2019ll be a race that\u2019s all about times and I\u2019m pleased to be lining up for the start. After the meeting in Eugene (5 July), I\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margot Chevrier (pole vault): \u201cI 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\u2019s 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\u2019ve 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\u2019s to come in the future. I\u2019m 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\u2019s best is 4.15 m. As a result, my goal is to ace the warm-up to clear it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Read the highlights of the athletes’ interviews at the press conference on Thursday, on...","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":2443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"city":[],"class_list":["post-2462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-paris-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2462"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paris.diamondleague.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=2462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}