© ASO / Victor Barcus
Paris Marathon 2025: Julien Casoli clinches his 6th title
Julien Casoli secures a sixth prestigious victory at the 2025 edition of the Paris Marathon. On Sunday, April 13, the para-athlete from Vesoul won in 1 hour 33 minutes and 3 seconds, after a breathtaking sprint. It was a historic performance on a demanding course, against Thibaut Daurat, a promising 24-year-old athlete of the new generation. This victory has a unique flavor, blending personal achievement with a symbolic duel between experience and the future of the sport.
| Relief after the frustration of 2024
2024 was supposed to be a landmark year for Julien Casoli, highlighted by the Paris Paralympic Games. After finishing second in the 2024 Paris Marathon, his dream of competing in the home Games vanished due to a wrist injury. Sidelined from competition, the athlete from Haute-Saône saw his season abruptly end, leaving behind a deep disappointment.
A year later, it was on the Parisian cobblestones where he sought his revenge.
“It’s possibly my most beautiful victory. Because it comes after a tough year. Because it was uncertain. And because I didn’t even think I could run this marathon,” he says, eyes filled with emotion at the finish line.
Julien Casoli
| A sixth Paris triumph on a tough course
Julien Casoli is familiar with this marathon: he has triumphed five times before. But this sixth victory has a very special taste. He didn’t feel in top form at the start, doubting himself, but he managed to perfectly handle his race, even through the pain.
“At times, I was on the verge of dropping out. But overall, I think I managed my effort well, it was a good day. I am happy to have won because honestly, I wouldn’t have bet on myself today.”
On an ever-demanding course, Julien delivered a solid performance and was able to rely on the support of the crowd.
“It’s one of the toughest marathons. The course is difficult. There are many cobblestones, and we had a slight headwind along the quays this morning. It’s not much, but it’s something to consider. The support from the crowd helps you push through.”
| An intense duel with Thibaut Daurat
The race could have shifted in the last 500 meters. It all came down to a sprint. Both athletes navigated the streets of the capital side by side, and it was ultimately in the final turn that the experience of the seasoned athlete made the difference.
“It felt like a Tour de France race finale,” Julien Casoli smiles, acknowledging the tension at the end. “I gave it my all, I thought I was going to beat him,” admits Thibaut Daurat, finishing just a second behind (1h33’04).
The duel was intense and symbolic: experience versus youthful vigor, the seasoned champion against the emerging talent.
“Thibaut is the future of disabled athletics in France,” says Casoli. “I sincerely thought he was going to beat me today. But it’s only his first marathon; he has plenty of room for growth.”
For Thibaut, this first marathon experience was a major success.
“It was a very beautiful race. For my first marathon, I had few benchmarks, and my counter fell at the start due to the cobblestones’ vibrations. So I raced by feel. With Julien, we alternated leads, and it came down to the finish. I take only positives from this first marathon.”
The athlete from Gers has big ambitions for the future.
“The plan is to qualify for the World Championships in India and continue competing in local events. Then I also want to race in big marathons like Boston, where the level is very high. I want to clock fast times and keep improving.”
Julien Casoli
| Is this victory a farewell for Julien Casoli?
At 42, Julien Casoli knows every race counts. Therefore, this sixth victory on Parisian soil could mark a turning point.
“Maybe this was my last Paris Marathon. You never know what the next year holds. But if it was the last… I’m glad I finished as I did.”
The story is beautiful, the emotion genuine. And if this marks a passing of the baton, it was written with the best script, in pure respect and competition.
The 2025 edition of the Paris Marathon was a significant moment in the history of para-athletics. Julien Casoli, a legend in French wheelchair racing, once again showcased his immense talent by clinching a sixth victory on the Parisian asphalt, in a final sprint as thrilling as it was heroic. On a demanding course, he drew from his experience and resilience to triumph against the talent of tomorrow. Behind this performance lies a symbol: that of a champion who continues to leave his mark on his sport. And while Thibaut Daurat already embodies the future, it was the greatness of Julien Casoli that shone over Paris this Sunday.
