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.
Source: Total Running Productions