French champion switches allegiance to Latvia — runner Bérénice Cleyet-Merle to represent our country
French runner Bérénice Cleyet-Merle, 31, whose grandmother is Latvian, has obtained Latvian citizenship and will now compete internationally for Latvia after World Athletics approved the switch. She previously competed in Riga in 2023.
Middle-distance runner Bérénice Cleyet-Merle will now represent Latvia instead of France, the country she has competed for until now, the Latvian Athletics Association (LVS) reports. The change became possible because the athlete's grandmother is Latvian.
LVS states that the process of granting her Latvian citizenship has been completed, and World Athletics has now given the 31-year-old permission to switch sporting nationality and compete for the Latvian team going forward.
Achievements in French colors
Cleyet-Merle has already competed in Riga before — in 2023 she took part in the first World Athletics road running championships, finishing seventh in the mile with a time of 4:34.41. That same year she became French indoor champion in the 1500 meters and won a European cross country title as part of the French team.
Her personal bests point to strong form: 4:03.58 in the 1500 meters (set in 2026), 2:01.19 in the 800 meters (also 2026), and 4:25.06 in the mile (2025).
Recent race in New York
On Sunday, at the traditional "New Balance 5th Avenue Mile 2026" street race in New York, Cleyet-Merle finished fourth in the mile with a time of 4:19. The race was won by British runner Gemma Rikey (4:14), with home runner Josette Andrews taking second (4:17) and fellow American Rachel MacIntosh third (4:18).
Cleyet-Merle joins the growing list of foreign-based Latvian citizens representing the national athletics team, including pole vaulter Alison Neider, hammer thrower Noah Kristian Jürgens, and Sweden-based throws specialist Ivars Steinbergs.
