American sprint hurdler Grant Holloway has returned to Paris with high expectations and fond memories as he prepares to race in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Diamond League Paris meeting on Friday, June 20.
With a deep field and fast conditions expected at Stade Charléty, the reigning Olympic and world champion is eyeing another statement performance.
Paris holds special meaning for Holloway. “Paris means a lot,” he said during Thursday’s press conference. “Just last August, I won my first Olympic gold here.” That win in the 2024 Summer Olympics was a career-defining moment for the American, and it continues to fuel his motivation.
But his connection to Paris goes back even further. In 2023, Grant Holloway clocked 12.98 seconds on the same track, a time that marked a turning point in his season and set the stage for his third outdoor world title later that year.
Now a seasoned champion, Holloway is embracing the challenge of competing again in a city that has become a personal favorite.
“Paris in general is a great place for me just to go out, compete, have a little bit of fun, let my hair down, not literally,” he smiled.
Meanwhile, Holloway acknowledged the unique nature of the hurdles:
“The thing about the hurdles is none of us are scared of anybody. In the sprint events, you can kind of dictate where you want to go. But with the hurdlers, I feel like at every Diamond League, there’s going to be a fierce battle.”
Fierce Field on Deck
Holloway will face a competitive and diverse field, featuring several of the best hurdlers from around the globe. Joining him are fellow Americans Trey Cunningham, Dylan Beard, Jared Jamal Britt, and Freddie Crittenden, all of whom have impressed on the U.S. circuit this season.
Also in the mix is Jason Joseph of Switzerland, a consistent sub-13 performer who recently won in Rome. Rachid Muratake of Japan, currently ranked among the world’s top hurdlers. France will be strongly represented by Wilhem Belocian, Sasha Zhoya, and Just Kwaou-Mathey. They will be looking to make a statement on home soil