The Dutch athlete was convincing at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo in the first of five series in a time of 53.75 and qualified for the semi -finals, which are on the program for Wednesday.
“It is your first race with hordes in a stadium. I know in advance that I don’t have to give everything and save on the last part, but you still have to be alert and make sure you don’t make mistakes,” said Bol after her race, which she won by force.
Femke Bol did not have to make an effort to move on to continue. © AFP
Bol is the defending champion on the 400 meters hurdles and this year still unbeaten. “The focus for the series is different from a final, although I do the same warm-up and preparation. But in the final you are really on.”
Femke Bol did it ‘quietly’
The fact that the 25-year-old Amersfoortse did it ‘calmly’ could be seen in the other results. Three athletes were faster in the series. The American Jasmine Jones recorded the best time with 53.18. Former world champion Dalilah Muhammad ran the fifth time: 53.80. Bol regards the American, who says goodbye to the sport after the World Cup, as her biggest competitor.
Femke Bol happy with silver at World Cup: ‘We cannot be legendary every tournament’
The 25-year-old Bol won silver on the opening day of the tournament with the relay team on the 4×400 meter mixed relay. That was already her fifth medal at a global title fight. She previously won gold twice at the 2023 World Cup in Budapest (400 meters hurdles and 4×400 meters women) and twice silver at the World Cup of 2022 in Eugene (400 meters hurdles and 4×400 meters mixed).
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Femke Bol this year still unbeaten at 400 meters hurdles
BOL is the towering favorite for gold, because Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone skips the part in Tokyo and focuses on the 400 meters. The Amersfoortse is unbeaten this year on the 400 meters hurdles. She won all eight races where she came to the start. In the prestigious Diamond League, she has now booked thirty victories in a row.