The 37th Herculis EBS athletics meeting will light up the track at the Stade Louis-II on Friday 21 July, with a top-class programme and some thrilling duels in prospect...
The final sprint before the summer Olympics
The 37th Herculis meeting certainly lived up to its promise!
In the 400m men's hurdles, world-record holder, Olympic champion and double World Champion Karsten WARHOLM (NOR) was making his third appearance in Monaco, and duly set a new Diamond League record and a new World Lead of 46.51 – the fourth fastest time ever run.
In the women's Mile, Faith KIPYEGON (KEN) wrote her name into the Monegasque history books by pulverising the current world record. Having previously become the first woman to record a time of under 3:50 in the women's 1500m in June 2022 (3:49.11 to be precise), this time she ran the Mile in 4:07.64, beating the world record set in Monaco by Sifan HASSAN (NED) in 2019 in the Brave Like Gabe Mile (4:12.33).
How it all began…
The origins of the Herculis EBS go back to the mid-1980s, and its destiny is closely intertwined with the construction of the Stade Louis II.
It was in 1984 that the Monaco Athletics Federation (FMA) was created. In its early days, Prince Albert II, then hereditary Prince, was also the President of the Federation. The same year, it was officially affiliated with the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations, now World Athletics). Until then athletics in the Principality was restricted to one club, AS Monaco, associated with France and with no national identity of its own.
In May 1985, just months after its official opening by Prince Rainier III, the Stade Louis II hosted the very first FMA event, a two-day match between Germany, France, the USA, and Italy. The following year, another match was organised involving France, Poland, and Italy.
While these matches were a success for the FMA, there were issues. Spectators wanted to see the biggest stars competing, but they were reluctant to take part.
After many meetings, a decision was taken: there would be no more matches, but one major meeting. The Herculis was born!
The legend…
In September 1987, around 80 athletes of all nationalities answered the Principality's call. The programme included traditional events (100 metres, 110 metre hurdles, pole vault, etc) and the "World One-Hour Challenge". In association with the sports daily L’Equipe, the FMA organised a race in which the athletes covered the longest distance possible over one hour, with a world record there to be set. The format was never repeated in the Principality.
It was in 1989 that the meeting really took off, hosting the world final of the Grand Prix IAAF Mobil, bringing together the world's top athletes.
18,000 spectators, 350 journalists and 30 national TV channels came to watch, and the legend was forged.
Since its creation 36 years ago, the Monegasque world athletics meeting has gone from strength to strength, attracting elite athletes and big crowds. Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, Marie-José Pérec, to name but a few, have all made their mark on the track at the Louis-II.
The Herculis has been voted the world's best meeting seven times (1998, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020), and has been a member of the prestigious elite Diamond League since 2010. It has seen countless world records set.
On your marks! Set? Come and experience the thrill of top-class athletics in Monaco!