American middle-distance star Bryce Hoppel is set to take on one of the most competitive 800m fields at the Paris Diamond League on Friday, June 20 at Stade Charléty.
Hoppel, began his 2025 Diamond League campaign in impressive fashion in Doha, running a season’s best 1:43.26 to finish second behind Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela, who clocked a world-leading 1:43.11.
Speaking at the press conference ahed of Paris , Hoppel offered insight into the mindset required to thrive in such a competitive environment.
“It’s been really difficult to have a steady build now with how the environment is in the 800m,” he said. “It’s wild how fast we’ve been running this year and the year prior. You have to bring your A-game for each and every race. I think that’s been a lot of fun to deal with, but behind the scenes we’re trying to build up for those big moments. Having all these incredible competitors kind of makes each moment a big moment. So you’ve got to come out and compete and do the best you can whenever you can.”
Hoppel’s words reflect the fierce energy around the 800m in 2025. A discipline where championship-level intensity has become the norm at every meet.
Formidable Line Up
However, a stack field awaits. Among the top names joining Hoppel on the line in Paris are Gabriel Tual, the French Olympic finalist with a personal best of 1:41.61. Wycliffe Kinyamal of Kenya, a former Commonwealth Games champion with a PB of 1:42.08. There is Slimane Moula, Algeria’s African champion, who has already clocked 1:42.77 this season.
Also in the mix is Mohamed Attaoui of Spain. Mohamed is a rising European force with a personal best of 1:42.04. Josh Hoey, the in-form American who recently ran 1:42.43. The field also includes Yanis Meziane, France’s European U23 champion, who will look to feed off the home crowd energy.
