The violet track, heralded as the fastest ever, has already achieved its first world record. On a remarkable day, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei secured the men’s 10,000m title with an Olympic record, while Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr made a strong impression. Meanwhile, the U.S. mixed 4x400m relay team smashed the previous record by over a second.
Jon Ridgeon, CEO of World Athletics, was present, expressing his belief that more records will fall in the coming eight days. “This track is incredibly fast,” he stated. “The athletes are in phenomenal form as well. I wouldn’t be shocked if we witness four or five world records.”
Athletes echoed his sentiments regarding the new Mondo track, which the manufacturer claims is 2% faster than the already speedy surface used during the Tokyo Olympics. “It’s extremely quick,” Hodgkinson remarked after breezing through her 800m heat in 1min 59.31sec. “I felt my legs moving so quickly, I was trying to hold back.”
“It’s a stunning purple track—there are no slow tracks for us anymore,” added Dina Asher-Smith, who qualified for the women’s 100m semi-finals with a time of 11.01sec, finishing second in her heat while barely accelerating beyond third gear.
The mixed 4x400m world record followed. Although often seen as one of the easier records in athletics, and typically featuring teams that don’t always field their star runners, the U.S. team of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown made it look effortless, finishing in 3min 7.41sec.
The British mixed relay team, comprising Sam Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson, and Nicole Yeargin, won their heat in a time over three seconds slower, but it boosts their confidence moving into Saturday’s final.
Mondo also claims to have created a new surface mix for the Paris track, incorporating “bivalve mollusc shells, such as mussels and clams,” enhancing its sustainability.
However, the company states the true speed comes from “elliptical geometric air cells that allow for a smooth, dynamic response with every step, significantly enhancing the absorption and return of energy exerted.”
According to reigning world 1500m champion Kerr, there’s no reason to doubt those claims. “The track was unmistakably fast,” he commented. “My aim was to stay relaxed and trust in my fitness, which I believe I accomplished today.”
Kerr mentioned he felt in much better shape than last year, which served as a witty comeback to Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who had criticized him.
Ingebrigtsen was asked about his rivalry with Kerr and remarked, “It’s hard to call him a rival when he never shows up. He’s known as the Brit who never competes. I try to race as often as possible and entertain the fans.”
Kerr’s lighthearted retort after winning his heat in 3min 35.83sec? “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I welcome that and hope to be remembered for something a little different.”
Ingebrigtsen looked strong in his heat, finishing third, and humorously wore a mask during his interaction with journalists. When asked why by a British reporter, he quipped, “Because you are sick!”
A nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of London 2012 enveloped the Stade de France as it opened to nearly 69,000 attendees during both morning and evening sessions, generating an immense wall of sound from local fans. The event commenced with thunderous cheers for Bob Beamon, the 1968 Olympic long jump champion, who inaugurated the newly revealed track with three taps from his walking stick, and the applause continued from there.
The vibrant atmosphere was a stark contrast to the 2016 Rio Games, where only a couple of thousand spectators attended the opening day in a 60,000-capacity venue, as well as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were held without any audience.
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The crowd erupted with chants of “Allez les Bleus” before the appearances of French athletes, boosted by an in-house DJ spinning tracks, further enhancing the atmosphere. However, spectators missed the chance to cheer for Kevin Mayer, the world-record holder in decathlon, who withdrew just before the event due to injury.
Fans witnessed the favorites for the women’s 100m, including American Sha’Carri Richardson, comfortably advance to the semi-finals. Britain’s Daryll Neita shone, qualifying with a joint-second fastest time of 10.92, following Marie-Josée Ta Lou’s 10.87.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, who boasts a personal best of 10.93 that could have secured her a spot in the final, was absent due to her federation’s oversight in not entering her. “I’ve dedicated four years to earn this chance. For what?” she expressed on social media. World Athletics later confirmed she was registered only for the 200m and 4x100m events.
In the evening session, 17-year-old Phoebe Gill made a strong impression, alongside Jemma Reekie, as they both qualified for the semi-finals in the women’s 800m, with Gill running 1:58.83 and finishing third in her heat.
“It was incredibly fast,” Gill stated. “I started to worry at the 600m mark that I might need to compete in the repechage, but I’m relieved I managed to find the energy to qualify in third place.
“We’re in a whole new league now. I’m accustomed to leading my races without much concern for those behind me. But in this professional arena, adaptability and focus are essential. I’m thrilled to have achieved third place amidst such elite athletes.
“It was incredibly emotional being out there. This is my first experience in such a significant setting. It’s the Olympics, the pinnacle of athletic competition. When I saw my face on the big screen, I struggled to hold back tears. You can’t break down before running an 800m race.”
The men’s 10,000m was contested at a quick pace overall, with Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega stretching the field during the race’s first half. However, there were still nine runners in contention at the bell before Cheptegei surged ahead to clinch gold in 26:43.14. Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia secured silver, while bronze went to American Grant Fisher.
