Faith Kipyegon and Mondo Duplantis are set to grace the track and field at the Meeting de Paris this Sunday. This event marks the first Wanda Diamond League meeting since the Olympic qualifying window closed, making it a crucial juncture for athletes as they gear up for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Stade Charlety will host a constellation of stars, all vying for a final rehearsal before the grand stage of the Olympics.
Faith Kipyegon’s return to Paris is laden with nostalgia and expectation. Last year, she left an indelible mark on this very track by breaking the world 5000m record.
Her phenomenal 2023 saw her clinch the 1500m and 5000m double at the World Championships in Budapest, followed by a formidable performance at the World Road Running Championships in Riga.
Despite a hiatus from racing until a few weeks ago, Kipyegon demonstrated her undiminished prowess at the Kenyan Olympic Trials, winning the 5000m in 14:46.28 and the 1500m in 3:53.98 on consecutive days, setting the fastest ever times at altitude for these distances.
As she prepares to compete in her favored 1500m event on Sunday, Kipyegon will face a formidable lineup that includes world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu, European champion Ciara Mageean, Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir, and Oceanian record-holder Jess Hull.
This race promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Kipyegon aiming to reaffirm her dominance and fine-tune her form ahead of the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the men’s pole vault promises to be one of the highlights of the meeting, featuring an elite field headlined by Mondo Duplantis.
The Swedish sensation, who holds both the indoor and outdoor world records with his latest mark at 6.24m, has been in imperious form this season, consistently clearing 6.00m or higher in all his competitions.
Duplantis, who set the meeting record of 6.01m in Paris in 2021, is eager to push the boundaries further as he builds momentum for his Olympic title defense.
The competition in the pole vault is as fierce as it gets, with every medallist from the past four editions of the World Championships in attendance.
The lineup includes world silver medallist Ernest John Obiena, European silver medallist Emmanouil Karalis, two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, North American record-holder KC Lightfoot, Olympic silver medallist Chris Nilsen, world bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall, former world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie, and French champion Thibaut Collet.
This assembly of talent, all members of the exclusive six-metre club, sets the stage for an electrifying contest.
The Meeting de Paris is more than just another event on the athletics calendar; it’s a critical proving ground for athletes aiming to peak at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
For Kipyegon and Duplantis, this meeting is a chance to once again showcase their extraordinary abilities and solidify their status as the best in the world. As the countdown to the Olympics continues, all eyes will be on the Stade Charlety, where history is poised to unfold yet again.
Source: World Athletics
