The 2026 Meeting Indoor de Lyon, part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze circuit, took place on January 24, 2026, at the Halle Stéphane Diagana in Lyon, France.The Halle Stéphane Diagana played host to an unforgettable evening of elite indoor athletics on Friday, January 24, as the 2026 Meeting Indoor de Lyon, part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Bronze, delivered a captivating blend of national records, world-leading times, and raw competitive drama. The night belonged emphatically to France's Sarah Madeleine, whose historic run sent shockwaves through the distance running community, and Ireland's Bori Akinola, who reaffirmed his status as one of Europe’s brightest sprint prospects. A French Record for the Ages in the 5000m The undeniable highlight of the meeting was the women's 5000m event. Paced perfectly and running with visible determination, French distance specialist Sarah Madeleine delivered a career-defining performance. She didn't just break the decade-old national indoor record; she shattered it, clocking an astonishing 15:03.76. This remarkable time carved nearly 30 seconds off the previous French benchmark and established a new world-leading time for the distance in the nascent 2026 indoor season. It was a masterful display of stamina and tactical execution, electrifying the home crowd and serving notice to her international competitors that she will be a force to be reckoned with this season. Akinola Edges Thrilling Men's 60m Sprint The shorter distances provided edge-of-your-seat excitement. The men's 60m final was a lightning-fast affair, showcasing explosive power out of the blocks. In a tightly contested race, Ireland’s powerful sprinter, Bori Akinola, surged across the finish line first, claiming a significant victory and adding valuable points to his World Tour campaign. While times were tight across the field, Akinola's top-end speed in the final meters proved decisive.
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Tactical Battles Unfold in the Middle Distance The middle-distance events offered a series of tactical duels that captivated the knowledgeable French crowd. The men's 1500m saw a compelling clash between French talent Paul Anselmini and Kenya's formidable Vincent Kibet Keter. In a race that came down to the final 200 meters, it was Anselmini who leveraged the roaring home support to pull away slightly, winning with an impressive 3:36.72—just ahead of Keter’s 3:37.16. Morocco’s Abdelati El Guesse demonstrated superb control in the men's 800m, navigating the field expertly to secure first place in a swift 1:45.21, holding off a late charge from Spain’s seasoned campaigner, Álvaro De Arriba (1:45.84). Hurdles and 400m Deliver Strong Marks The women’s 60m hurdles showcased American efficiency, with Alatia Johnson demonstrating crisp hurdle clearance to win in a sharp 8.02 seconds, comfortably clear of her nearest competitors, Nicola Mazetti and Jill Sanchez. In the men's 400m, the heats offered a study in contrasting styles. Hungarian star Attila Molnár dominated Final 1 with an exceptional 45.56, a statement time this early in the year, while Spain's Markel Fernandez took Final 2 honors with a solid 46.30. As the athletes now look ahead to the next stops on the World Athletics Indoor Tour, the lasting memory of Lyon 2026 will be the sheer quality of competition and Sarah Madeleine's historic dash for the line—a night where records didn't just fall, they were comprehensively rewritten.
European Athletics
