After suffering his first defeat in almost three years earlier this month in Stockholm, normal service was resumed for Armand Duplantis in the Paris Diamond League on Sunday (28).
In his first competition since marrying his long-time fiancé Desire Inglander, Duplantis soared over a meeting record and outdoor world leading height of 6.13m before taking three attempts at a world record height of 6.32m.
Duplantis wanted to "make a little statement" after a chastening defeat on home soil in Stockholm and the Swede won by three clear heights from France’s Baptiste Thiery who cleared a 5.93m PB. Greece's Emmanouil Karalis and Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, who defeated Duplantis last month, were third and seventh respectively on countback at 5.83m.
"I felt like I wanted to make a little statement and come back. Just being the winner is cool again, definitely after Stockholm. Of course, I had a bit of a crazy couple of weeks and probably a bit more partying than I am used to before the competition. Your mind goes a long way which is crazy because the past couple of weeks I was so after the wedding because I knew that I had some stuff to get out.
"And now I am laser-focused. The wedding was so refreshing and now I am so ready to go after my next goals," said Duplantis who will target a fourth successive European title in Birmingham from 10-16 August.
Switzerland’s Angelica Moser won the women's pole vault with 4.77m but the reigning European indoor and outdoor champion's evening ended abruptly after losing control of her pole and landing awkwardly on her first and only attempt at a national record of 4.90m.
Hunter Bell and Bebendorf in winning form
Georgia Hunter Bell produced her second Diamond League win of the season in the women’s 1500m.
The world 800m silver medallist held off Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu in the home straight, 3:55.63 to 3:55.92, with reigning European indoor champion Agathe Guillemot taking third and improving her French record to 3:56.24.
Hunter Bell confirmed afterwards that she is planning to contest both the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships later this year although she is yet to decide which events to contest.
Karl Bebendorf continued the German resurgence in the 3000m steeplechase. One month after his teammate Frederik Ruppert became the first European in history to break the 8:00-barrier, Bebendorf took the plaudits in Paris with a surprise victory in a 8:05.55 PB.
"I was very nervous today, so it was difficult to put myself in the mindset of dominating this race because it was such a crowded field. A Diamond League victory in such a stadium is amazing. Now I can go back to training for three weeks and prepare for Birmingham," said Bebendorf.
Jacobs returning to form with Birmingham approaching
Reigning two-time European 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs from Italy finished third in the 100m in a season's best of 9.96, the fastest time by a European in 2026.
Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith, who is also seeking his third European 400m title on home soil in Birmingham this summer, was fourth in the 400m, also in a European leading time of 44.09.
World indoor champion Lurdes Gloria Manuel from Czechia also set a lifetime best and European lead of 49.37 to finish second in the women's 400m.
Michael Obasuyi finished fourth in the 110m hurdles in a Belgian record and European leading time of 13.10. He also set a national record of 13.16 in his heat.
After a delayed start to his season, Niels Laros continued his excellent mid-season form in the 800m by finishing second in a 1:43.60 PB.
Photos courtesy of James Rhodes