All Hail the King — Jimmy Gressier Talks World Championship 10K Gold

The Jimmy Gressier talk event with his sponsor Kiprun had been in the works long before anyone stepped onto the start line at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships. The plan was simple: Jimmy would sit down for a Q&A with local media and invited guests, reflect on the 10K race the night before, and then lead everyone on a #RunWithJimmy session through nearby Yoyogi Park.

Influencers would get their content, Kiprun would get its promotional bump. Straightforward enough.

But the charismatic Frenchman had other ideas. In a 10K for the ages, Jimmy unleashed a furious kick over the final 100 meters to claim gold, a performance that had fans leaping out of their seats both in the stadium and at home.

Suddenly, the event carried a whole new weight: we weren’t just meeting a star runner, we were in the presence of the best in the world. And while the social run was scrapped so he could attend the medal ceremony (which is fair enough!), Jimmy was generous with his time, sharing reflections and answering questions. Here’s an overview.

Q&A Session with Jimmy Gressier (super trilingual interpretation by Sebastien Baudin)

The first question was the obvious one: How did it feel crossing the line?

Jimmy admitted he couldn’t quite believe it at first. “It was only when I watched it back on my phone later that I thought, ‘Oh wow. That’s really cool!’”

The wider running world was just as stunned. On multiple podcasts this morning, the story was the same: this was the upset of the championships, a result no one had predicted. So did Jimmy really think he had a shot at the top step of the podium?

“I was bringing that confidence from the 5K victory at the Diamond League final in Zurich, so I was feeling good. I knew that if I was still there or thereabouts in the last 150 to 100 meters, I had a chance to make the podium.”

The race itself was cagey: slow, tactical, and made even tougher by the suffocating humidity. How did that fit with his expectations?

“I knew it would be tactical, and it played out almost exactly as I imagined. Slow with a few surges and then a last-lap burn-out. It was as if the race I simulated came to life.”

Still, there were moments of doubt. “When Selemon [Barega of Ethiopia] made that surge at around 2.5K, I felt a jolt of concern. But I was able to roll with it.”

And who was the first person he thought of after winning?

“Of course, my family, but it was my grandfather. He means a lot to me, and he came to mind first.”

Battle scars: Jimmy's legs flecked with spike marks from the slow tactical 10K

After the race talk, the focus shifted to Jimmy’s background and mindset. He shared how he grew up playing soccer at the highest youth levels, representing PSG and the French national team. It was only when a coach pointed out his speed and suggested he try cross country that things began to change. After winning his very first race, Jimmy started to make the transition and to realize his potential as a runner.

Now that he’s flourishing on the track, what’s his mindset? How does he approach competition?

“I don’t put pressure on the result. I enter each race to give it 100%. I want to race with no regrets, but the results aren’t everything.”

Jimmy and the extended Kiprun team

While Kiprun as a brand is on the rise, and Jimmy’s gold medal will only accelerate that, the company is open about the fact that there’s still work to do. The effort is paying off, though. Their 42 House project in Iten, Kenya, has already begun to show results, with recent wins at the Porto Half Marathon and a Rotterdam 10K.

So why did Jimmy decide to sign with Kiprun?

He mentioned the obvious French connection, but said it went deeper than national pride. His first pair of running shoes came from Decathlon, and with the company based in northern France, just like him, the link felt natural. But what really sold him were the values.

“I have ambitions to be more than a runner. I want to be involved in product development and to support the wider running community, and through Kiprun I’m able to do that.”

So all hail the new king of the 10K, a very worthy champion. With a gold medal around his neck and a growing brand at his side, Jimmy Gressier is just getting started. He spoke of racing at the LA Olympics and a potential future shift to the marathon. Is anyone going to bet against him now?