As we approach the summer athletics season, the weekend of May 30-31, 2026, promises to be an exhilarating one for fans of track and field, particularly for the French athletes who will be competing across three significant events: the prestigious Götzis Combined Events Meeting, the Wanda Diamond League in Rabat, and the International Meeting in Forbach. These competitions are not merely a showcase of athletic prowess; they are also critical opportunities for athletes to secure their spots for the European Championships in Birmingham, scheduled for August 10-16.
The Götzis Hypomeeting: A Stage for Elite Athletes
Every year, Götzis, Austria, transforms into a hub for combined events specialists, drawing some of the world’s finest athletes to the Mösle Stadion. Among the competitors, French decathlete Makenson Gletty from Nice Côte D’azur Athlétisme is set to make a significant impact. With a personal best of 8606 points, Gletty faces fierce competition from Canadian stars Damian Warner and Pierce Lepage, German athletes Leo Neugebauer and Niklas Kaul, and Swiss talent Simon Ehammer. Meanwhile, fellow French athlete Maxime Moitié-Charnois aims to gain invaluable experience among these elite competitors. On the women's side, Ysée Le Philippe (Entente Sud Lyonnais) will represent France in a challenging field that includes Belgian Noor Vidts and Finnish Saga Vanninen, marking her journey in international athletics.
Highlights from the Wanda Diamond League in Rabat
The Diamond League event in Rabat, Morocco, promises a thrilling lineup as it enters its third stage. French pole vault champion Marie-Julie Bonnin (Stade Bordelais Athlétisme) will compete for the third time this season against top-tier athletes like American Katie Moon and Sandi Morris, Swiss Angelica Moser, and Australian Nina Kennedy. In the 800m race, Anaïs Bourgoin (EFCVO) returns to a track that has favored her, having previously set a career-best time of 1:57.81 in Morocco last year. This time, she faces a strong international field including Ethiopian Tsige Duguma and Swiss Audrey Werro.
The French middle-distance runners will also be well-represented in the men’s 1500m, with Azeddine Habz (Val d’Europe Athlétisme) and Flavien Szot (Entente Savoie Athlé) taking to the track. Habz, a French record holder, will compete for the fifth consecutive time at the Moulay-Abdallah Stadium against American Yared Nuguse and reigning world champion Isaac Nader from Portugal. On the women's side, Agathe Guillemot (CAB Pont L'Abbé) makes her season debut in the 1500m, where she will race against formidable competitors like British Laura Muir and Ethiopian Freweyni Hailu.
Furthermore, the men's 800m will see the much-anticipated return of Gabriel Tual (US Talence), who last competed in the Tokyo World Championships. He will encounter stiff competition from Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi and American Donovan Brazier, while Yanis Meziane (Athlé 91) looks to improve his personal best after a commendable fifth place finish in Shanghai. In the 3000m steeplechase, four French athletes will aim to meet European standards, led by Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali.
Additionally, the International Meeting in Forbach will feature exciting events, including a notable performance from hammer thrower Yann Chaussinand (Clermont Auvergne Athlétisme), who recently threw a season-best of 81.07m in Norway. Female athletes Rose Loga (Athlé Chartres-Lucé ASPTT Mainvilliers) and Florella Freyche (Entente Sud Lyonnais) will also compete. Rising stars such as Isabelle Black (Montpellier Athletic Méditerranée Métropole) and Charlotte Dumas (Clermont Auvergne Athlétisme) will be ones to watch, with both aiming to set personal bests in their respective races. The anticipation for the weekend’s competitions is palpable, as these athletes strive to showcase their talents on the international stage.
As reported by athle.fr.
