Brits in Paris
The stand-out British performance was Georgia Hunter Bell’s win in the 1500m in 3:55.63. What Georgia has achieved since returning to elite-level running less than 3 years ago is beyond amazing. Speaking to me after the race, she said: “I am happy the way the race went. I was worried that people might not go with the pacemaker, but it was really quick from the gun. So it went the way I thought it would. I felt under pressure all the way. It was hard from the start. Everyone was there; there were no major gaps. I certainly felt tired, but I was confident I was going to do it”.
I asked her if she now had the confidence to expect to win every race, but her answer was typically self-effacing: “No, I don’t ever expect that because I know how quickly things can change in the season. [She refers to what Audrey Werro and Femke are doing in the 800m as an example]. I never expect to win, but I hope for it. I am really enjoying this period of racing at the moment”. And on the back of an impressive win at 1500, she told me she thought she was actually better at 800 than 1500!
One of the things I love about our sport is how accessible athletes are. I had sat on the same table with Georgia and other British athletes at lunch the day before the race – in what other sport would that happen?
Speaking afterward, Georgia confirmed that she would run at both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games, “not wanting to waste the opportunity of competing at the Home Champs,” but was unsure whether she would run 800, 1500, or double up.
Georgia Hunter Bell has had a strong outdoor season! Stuart Weir interviews Georgia after her 1500m win at @MEETINGPARIS ! #diamondleague, @stuartweir pic.twitter.com/TFHi110sEV
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) July 9, 2026
Katie Snowden ran a season’s best of 4:00.91 – a very respectable time in most races but only worth 10th place in such a fast one.
Jake Wightman was third in the 1500m in 3:29.95 but finished fast. He told me: “It was hard. I really wanted to get off quickly. It felt like it started biting about 800 in. I think it was my third fastest time ever, but I just wish I was a bit closer to the front and more competitive for the win.
I had a bad spell at one point in the race, but I’m getting there. The best run I’ve had this season, so I’m getting there. I need to get some more training in with the two championships (European and Commonwealth) coming up, but I’m doing alright”.
It has been a good month for Jake, with the company he co-founded with another athlete, Last Rep Coffee, announced as an official global supplier for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26.
Back on the Paris track, Ben Pattison was finishing fast but had left himself too much to do in the 800 and had to accept fourth place in 1:43.71.
Matt Hudson-Smith was in a good position through the second bend but faded to finish fourth in a season’s best of 44.09.
Jeremiah Azu ran 10.18 in the 100m for 8th place in a race where the top five were sub 10 seconds.
Watch my interview with Jake Wightman at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KoCYs52JfLU
