Despite the oppressive heat, which had rumours swirling about the event’s possible cancellation, the Paris Diamond League went ahead on Sunday. The heat was no impediment for 2024 Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop of Edmonton, who posted the fastest 800m time in the world so far in 2026. Arop ran 1:41.84, a little over half a second short of his personal best and well over a second faster than his previous season’s best of 1:43.11. Arop beat the Netherlands’ Niels Laros, who finished second in a new personal best of 1:43.60, and Norway’s Tobias Grønstad of Norway, who was third, with 1:43.63.
FASTEST TIME IN THE WORLD THIS YEAR! 🇨🇦😮💨
Marco Arop takes the win at the Paris Diamond League with a world-leading 1:41.84 in the men’s 800m. pic.twitter.com/qnRU8Iexew
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) June 28, 2026
Arop’s had a slow start to his season, with two previous Diamond League losses (first to the young American phenom, Cooper Lutkenhaus, in Stockholm on June 7, and again a few days later in Oslo, where Lutkenhaus beat Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, forcing Arop to settle for third).
At Canadian track nationals last weekend, Arop opted to race the 1,500m rather than his signature event, and finished second; the 800m was won by Abdullahi Hassan.
The next Diamond League men’s 800m race is scheduled for London on July 18. Start lists have not yet been published for that event.
Sarah Mitton wins shot put event
In other events, Canada’s Sarah Mitton won the shot put event, with a throw of 19.99 metres. Yemisi Mabry of Germany was second, with 19.93, while the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder, who has the world-leading throw of 21.09 from the Keqiao Diamond League in China in May, was third, with 19.89.
Sprinter Andre De Grasse had a tough day at the office, finishing seventh in 10.02 in the 100m, which was won by the U.S.’s Trayvon Bromell, in 9.91; Noah Lyles finished second, in 9.92.
After winning Canadian nationals last weekend, Jean-Simon Desgagnés struggled in the 3,000m steeplechase, finishing 17th in 8:23.50.
For full results from the Meeting de Paris, click here.