by Stuart Weir
This is Stuart Weir’s final piece on the 2025 Paris Diamond League, June 20, 2025. Stuart Weir is the senior writer for Europe for RunBlogRun. Paris Diamond League meeting always delivers a tremendous number of incredible performances.
Paris Diamond League delivers
Paris is one of the world’s great cities, Everyone likes going to Paris. I could see the Eiffel Tower from my hotel roof terrace. Memories of the 2024 Olympics.
The Diamond League used to be in the Stade de France but even a decent crowd rattled around in it. Moving to Charlety Stadium, a 20,000 capacity stadium a few years ago was an inspired move.
This year’s program was well balanced with some great head to heads and enough French athletes to give appease local interest.
Starting with the head to heads there was Neeraj Chopra winning the javelin with 88.16 from Julian Weber (87.88) ironically with both throwers achieving their best with their opening throw.
For the second week running, Nicola Olysagers beat Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the women’s high jump with Olysagers clearing 2m in consecutive diamond leagues. Olysagers performed so well that she told the media that she had given herself a 10 out of 10 for her approach to one jump in her famous notebook.
Katie Moon beat her friend and rival Sandi Morris on count-back with both clearing 4.73. At the pre-event press conference, Katie was asked how she relaxed. Sandi recommended keeping reptiles! (Morris, of course has 3 snakes, lizards, birds, a dog and a cat if I remember correctly).
There was a comfortable win for Rai Benjamin in the 400h in 46.73 a few days after beating Karsten Warholm in Stockholm. Benjamin said afterwards: “I just took it easy because we just had a really fast race in Stockholm. There was no need to come out and force something out, especially because the season is so long. I came out and ran fast, sub 47 is impressive. I just ran smart and ran for the win”. The idea of running 46.73 while taking it easy is simply ridiculous.
Anavia Battle won her fourth Diamond League 200m of the year. I confess to knowing little about her but what a talent – in Paris 22.27. Clearly enjoying it all, she said: “I am going to have a legend season this year. I am super confident on and off the track. I am very blessed every time I step on the track and amaze myself, and I am super excited to see what is happening becasue it is only up from here. My faith in God has gotten a lot stronger and I have been working with a therapist which is very important”.
Then there were two French records with Azeddine Habz winning a 1500m race in 3:27.49 and Jimmy Gressier finishing fourth in the 5000m in a national record 12.51.59 and few other good home performances.
