The 2024 European Track and Field Championships will be remembered for stars like Femke Bol from the Netherlands, who pursued the women’s 400-metre hurdles title and won with an amazing burst of speed.
She came fresh from glory in this year’s indoor season, when she broke the record not just once, but twice. She was fast enough to hold the indoor 400m world record with a time of 49.17 seconds.
Making her name known
Due to her admirable indoor performance, it was indisputable that she would run fast outdoors. And she did not disappoint. Bol made her presence known at the European Championships, completing the 400-metre hurdles with a time of 54.16 seconds in the qualifying round, making her the dominant contender. This showed how quick she could be in the final round.
In the finals, Femke Bol built a massive early lead and her dominance continued in the final 100 metres. She won the race in 52.49 seconds, surpassing this year’s previous best time of 52.70 seconds set by the American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet in Atlanta on May 31.
Along the way, Femke Bol broke her own European Championships record of 52.67 seconds.
Given her recent feats, she is expected to win a medal at the Paris Olympics, and gold is a distinct possibility.
However, McLaughlin-Levrone still holds the 400-metre hurdles world record with a time of 50.68 seconds, which she set at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The Dutch star Femke Bol says she is looking forward to a “nice battle” with her American arch-rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Paris Olympics.
Bol, 24, picked up two golds and a bronze at the recent European Championships in Rome. She won the 400-metre hurdles and anchored the 4×400-metre relay team to victory. She also finished third in the mixed relay.
After her sterling performance in Rome, Bol will want to turn the tables on her American rival In Paris.
McLaughlin-Levrone, also 24, claimed the gold in the 400-metre hurdles in a then-record time of 51.46 seconds at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Femke Bol managed only a bronze in the event in Tokyo.
Subsequently, McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own record twice—first by 0.05 seconds in June 2022 at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon, and then to 50.68 seconds when she won gold at the world championships on the same track later that year
But the American missed last year’s world championships because of injuries, and Bol won the event.
Now Bol is looking forward to a rematch with the American in Paris.
“I hope it’s going to be a nice battle!” Bol said.
“I will try to be at my best form I can be and then we will see where it will bring us.”
She believes the Olympics in Paris packed with spectators will be different from Tokyo, where the stands were empty because of Covid regulations
“I went to Tokyo, but it was in Covid, it was completely different,” she said.
“I have a lot of family and friends who will be coming to Paris so I’m really looking forward to being there.
“But there’s still some training to do, some competition to do before I’ll be there.”
While Bol won medals in Rome, McLaughlin-Levrone was in fine form in New York. She set a world-leading time of 48.75 seconds over the 400 metres, falling just 0.05 seconds short of breaking Sanya Richards-Ross’ American women’s record.
Bol won the 400-metre race as well as the 400-metre hurdles at the European championships in Munich in 2022.
But Bol will not be running the 400-metre flat race in Paris,“Only the hurdles and the relay,” she said.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol, two of the greatest talents in the world of athletics, will face off for the first time since 2022 when they meet each other in the Stade de France prior to the Olympic 400m hurdles final.
Due in equal measure to injuries, conflicting priorities, and radically different race calendars, their infrequent meetings have only helped to build excitement for one of the Olympic showdowns. So far, McLaughlin-Levrone has never lost a race to Bol, who promises to be her only real gold medal rival in Paris.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s legacy
Being an Olympic champion and the first female athlete in history to run under 51 seconds to win the 2022 world title—in which Bol came in a distant second—McLaughlin-Levrone is without a doubt the best in her field. With a time that would have won the British 400-metre flat title, she accomplished a remarkable achievement that made the second and third fastest 400-metre hurdles in history look like club runners chasing after her.
However, injury prevented McLaughlin-Levrone from defending her world title when she decided to focus on the 400 metres last season, and she has only participated in a few races this year.
Just as questions started to arise about whether McLaughlin-Levrone could handle any rustiness, she set yet another world record, this time in the 400-metre hurdles, winning the US trials in 50.65 seconds.
The rise of Bol
Bol has continued to rise, setting the long-standing 400-metre indoor world record twice in consecutive seasons and becoming just the second woman to break 51 seconds as she warmed up for these Olympics while trailing her American competitor. While McLaughlin-Levrone is mostly visible on the largest stages of competition, Bol’s victory on the track has quickly established her as one of the most recognizable athletes in the sport.
Exciting times ahead
Bol may have improved and become more dominant on the circuit, but McLaughlin-Levrone is still faster on paper than she has ever been. Bol would need to accomplish something quite remarkable to defeat her on the biggest platform of them all.
In a breathtaking display of speed, endurance, and sheer athletic prowess, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again etched her name into the annals of sporting history, clinching a stunning victory in the women’s 400m hurdles final.
As the competitors rounded the final bend, all eyes were on McLaughlin-Levrone and her closest rival, Femke Bol, who was hot on her heels, following her coach’s strategy to the letter.
But as they entered the home stretch, McLaughlin-Levrone, known as the greatest women’s hurdler of all time, kicked into high gear, leaving Bol and the rest of the field trailing in her wake.
With each hurdle, she seemed to be racing against her world record, a record she had set just months earlier. And win that race she did, finishing in an astonishing 50.37 seconds, shattering her previous world record by 0.28 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone – Track Queen
This victory was not just a testament to McLaughlin-Levrone’s unparalleled skill and determination; it was a spectacle that showcased the very limits of human athleticism. In just three years, she has single-handedly sliced nearly two seconds off the world record, a feat that places her in a league of her own, even among the pantheon of track and field legends.
The stadium, awash with the bright orange of Dutch fans, had anticipated a thrilling duel. And while Bol, a formidable talent in her own right, had dominated the circuit in McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence due to injury and experimentation with other disciplines, the American’s return to form was nothing short of spectacular.
Bol, despite her valiant effort, finished third, her time of 52.15 seconds a testament to her exceptional ability. Yet, in the shadow of McLaughlin-Levrone’s brilliance, even such a performance seemed overshadowed. The Dutch athlete’s disappointment was palpable, her tears at the finish line a poignant reminder of the fine margins that separate greatness from legendary status.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s versatility is as remarkable as her hurdling prowess. Her personal bests in other events would see her compete at the highest levels across the board. But it is in the 400m hurdles where she truly shines, her unique ability to lead with either foot over the hurdles a testament to her unparalleled coordination and agility.
A declaration of dominance
As she crossed the finish line, the crowd’s roar was deafening. A fan in the stands presented her with a crown, a fitting tribute to the queen of the track. McLaughlin-Levrone’s victory was not just a win; it was a declaration of dominance, a statement that she is, without a doubt, the greatest track athlete of her era.
In a race that promised to be one of the highlights of the Games, McLaughlin-Levrone delivered a performance that will be remembered for generations to come. And as she stands atop the podium, her latest Olympic gold medal around her neck, one thing is clear: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is not just participating in the sport of track and field; she is redefining it.
Athletes are predicted to smash records at the Paris Olympics, which are sure to be a fantastic spectacle. Just take a look at the build-up: Quincy Wilson proved he is more than a one-time sensation this year when he smashed the U-18 mark twice, while Noah Lyles destroyed Michael Johnson’s 200-metre record at the trials.
Letsile Tebogo silenced the doubters by showcasing Africa’s sprinting strength in the meantime. These incredible accomplishments prepared the audience for an amazing sporting extravaganza.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Another exciting battle between Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the two greatest women’s hurdlers of their period, is developing with only 11 days left until the Olympics.
As they get ready to face off, both competitors have been painstakingly organizing, preparing, and training, keeping their tactics secret.
Femke Bol put on an amazing show in the women’s 400-metre hurdles at La Chaux-de-Fonds, finishing with a time of 50.95 seconds. This accomplishment broke both her personal best and the previous European record.
Bol is only the second woman to break the 51-second mark in this event, joining Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the top group for her outstanding accomplishment. Now, both athletes are set to square off as fierce competitors at the Olympics in Paris. As this is going on, Sydney keeps smashing records, which heightens the excitement for their impending confrontation.
Who will rule Paris and hearts, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone or Femke Bol?
Femke Bol enthralled the globe in several 400-metre events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including hurdles and flat races, with her electric exploits. With an incredible speed of 52.03 seconds, Bol won a bronze medal in the 400-metre hurdles, creating a new European record and ranking as the third-fastest female competitor ever.
Only two world records, set by Sydney McLaughlin (51.46 seconds) and Dalilah Muhammad (51.58 seconds), came in ahead of her at the finish. Bol left a lasting impression as one of the sport’s most intimidating athletes, thanks to her incredible accomplishments.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashes 400-metre hurdles World Record
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made history by beating the 400-metre hurdles world record for the fifth time at the US Olympic trials, finishing with a performance record of 50.65 seconds.
The 24-year-old athlete reduced 0.03 seconds off her previous mark, which she established two years ago at Eugene’s Hayward Field, and won a spot on the US Olympic team for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
About her achievement, McLaughlin-Levrone said: “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that time… Knowing that there is more there and there is more to fix just is a confidence booster heading into Paris.”
Despite only running the 400m hurdles once this year before the Olympic trials, McLaughlin-Levrone effortlessly got through her heats and advanced to the final round.
On defending her Olympic title
McLaughlin-Levrone will now compete at the Paris Olympics as one of the stars of the US team and a strong favourite to defend her championship title from three years ago, with Dutch athlete Femke Bol expected to give the most difficult competition.
“I would love to dip under 50 at some point… I don’t know if that’s this year or if that’s next year. Just always chipping away, seeing what’s possible and continuing to improve the race… There are so many different ways to run it and I feel like every time I’m on the track, I’m figuring out what’s the best way,” she declared.
McLaughlin-Levrone currently has seven of the top ten fastest 400m hurdles times in history.
In related news, Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones finished second and third at the US trials, with personal best times of 52.64 and 52.77, respectively. Both qualified for the Paris Games.
