La Parisienne 2025 : An Army of Superheroines in the Streets of Paris
La Parisienne brought together nearly 21,000 women in the streets of the capital on Sunday, September 14. For its 28th edition, supported by Nakd, its new three year partner, the event was a resounding success, driven by this year’s theme: Superheroines. Runners and walkers pushed themselves to the limit in their Superwoman or Catwoman outfits, embracing the challenge and enjoying a unique sporting experience. Designed with them in mind, the event took place in a space entirely dedicated to women : the Émile Anthoine Stadium and the surrounding streets near the Eiffel Tower.
From 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., women flooded the streets of Paris. After arriving in running gear or in dazzling costumes, they gathered on the Pont d’Iéna, specially set up for the occasion. The start was not immediate: first came an electrifying atmosphere, that contagious energy that only hundreds of highly motivated women can generate. Surrounded by architectural masterpieces, the Superheroines didn’t know where to look first, with the Eiffel Tower in the background and Place du Trocadéro looming above. Warmed up by four enthusiastic hosts, the 10km runners, recognizable by their purple or red capes, set off first along the Avenue des Nations Unies, closely followed by the 7km participants, their faces adorned with glittery masks. Finally, shortly after 11 a.m., the walkers concluded the successive waves of starts, as a light rain began to fall on Place de Varsovie.
| The key feature of this race : the rarity of its 100% female character ?
Races exclusively dedicated to women are rare, and that is precisely why they have become so sought-after by those most concerned. La Parisienne is one of them. Unique in its kind, created in 1997 by Patrick Aknin, it has been organized by the Golazo agency since 2019, with Jennifer Molina, the communications manager, playing a key role: “It’s a very good edition! The weekend was a complete success, we’re very happy,” explains the event’s lead organizer. “This year, we were incredibly lucky with the village, because on Friday the weather was beautiful, so there were huge crowds, and yesterday the partner and exhibitor stands were constantly busy.” The success was also evident in the choice of the theme: “It always comes from us. We try to choose themes that we like, and I think this is the best theme we’ve ever done. They loved it!”
If the organizers are so committed to keeping La Parisienne an all-female race, it is to preserve the very essence of the event: making the runners visible. A goal that perfectly suits the regular participants. “Between the atmosphere among women and the excellent organization, you just want to do it again,” smiles Alexandra Selam. A sentiment shared by Garance Perrot, second in the 10km: “I’ll be back! What surprised me was how much the runners encouraged each other. It really gave me a boost.” Its all-female character does not prevent the event from remaining inclusive, particularly by welcoming people with disabilities or reduced mobility: there were 50 participants this year. The two formats, 10km and 7km (running or walking), allow everyone to find their place. To ensure everything ran smoothly, more than 1,500 volunteers and over 150 freelancers were mobilized, while about fifteen music bands energized the course from start to finish.
“It’s amazing to see all these super-strong women !“
Norine Djemel, 10 km Finisher
| Powerful performances, and far beyond…
Louise Chandon completed the 10km race in 37:03, without setting a personal record, but with a big smile, perfectly in tune with her own goals for the season : “I came because I had heard about this women-only race. I think it’s a great initiative. I wanted a somewhat challenging run before the Paris 20km. I thought it would be more fun with other girls rather than alone,” says the long-distance runner, who holds a marathon personal best of 2:56:38.
The feminine spirit of the race resonated not only in the heart of the winner. For Maud Driguet, it gave full meaning to her presence that morning. “This is a race I’ve always missed, and now I finally had the chance to do it. It’s incredible, we all support each other. Promoting women in sport like this is truly wonderful, and it’s even more special since becoming a mother,” shares the athlete, who made her triumphant return to competition a year after giving birth to twins. “They carried me to the finish, and I ended up with my best 10km time,” rejoiced the Infinity Run club member.
A first 10km completed, impressive times posted at the finish, personal bests for some… but above all, emotions running high. Like those of two young strangers, who embraced like old friends after crossing the line together. “In the last kilometer, I was about to stop and she reached out her hand. I thought, ‘Come on, I’ll follow her and we’ll finish together.’ I was breaking down. And she was there. The right person at the right moment,” exclaimed Norine Djemel, speaking about her heroine of the day, Hind Khayati. “That’s something you only find among women,” concludes Jennifer Molina, whose mission was accomplished brilliantly. “It’s amazing to see all these super-strong women!” marvels Norine, founder of Girls Who Run Paris.
Armed with their superpowers, the 21,000 Parisiennes who crossed the finish line on Avenue Joseph-Bouvard were rewarded with a beautiful medal featuring a logo inspired by the world of Superheroines. A well-deserved recognition for the effort of running or walking between 7 and 10 km. To recharge, the village set up at Émile-Anthoine Stadium offered the perfect space. Between deckchairs and goodies distributed by various partners, the finishers had plenty to enjoy.
➜ Find all the race results here.
Sabine LOEB
Journalist
