Ethiopian star Lamecha Girma will attempt to break the men's 3000m steeplechase world record at the Paris Diamond League at Charléty Stadium on June 9.

What you need to know:

– The current world record is 7:53.63, set by Morocco's Said Saaeed Shaheen, which was set on Sept. 3, 2004 in Brussels.

– The closest anyone has come within the past decade is Soufiane El Bakkali’s 7:56.68 to win the Rabat Diamond League meet last month. The record has survived challenges from all-time steeplechase greats like Brimin Kipruto (7:53.64 PR from 2011); Paul Koech (7:54.31 PR from 2012) and Ezekiel Kemboi (7:55.76 PR from 2011).

– Girma’s personal best is 7:58.68 from the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in May 2022.

– Girma, 22, is the reigning world championship and Olympic silver medalist in the 3000m steeplechase. He holds the world junior record of 7:59.13 from 2019. He has won the Diamond League title in the steeplechase in 2020 and 2021.

– Girma is no stranger to taking down long-standing world records. In February, he broke Daniel Komen’s 25-year-old 3000m indoor world record with a 7:23.81 to take more than a second off of Komen’s 7:24.90. He negative split that race and closed in about 3:38 for the final 1500m.

Who else is in the race?

Girma is the only man in the field with a personal best under 8:00. The next-fastest competitors are Kenya's Benjamin Kigen (8:05.12 PR), his compatriot Abraham Kibiwot (8:05.51 PR); France's Djilali Bedrani (8:05.23 PR); and Fernando Carro (8:05.69 PR). USA's Anthony Rotich will also be making the trip to Paris for the race.