Lieke Klaver won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow. The athlete from Enkhuizen only had to let her compatriot Femke Bol go ahead, who took the gold in a superior way with a new world record.
The 25-year-old Klaver was allowed to start in favorable lane 6. Bol started from lane 5. Going into the final lap, Bol already had a comfortable lead over Klaver. Bol finished in a time of 49.17 seconds. She thus fell below her old world record of 49.24, which she ran two weeks ago at the National Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.
Lieke Klaver finished behind Bol for silver in 50.16 seconds. It was also a personal record for Klaver. American Alexis Holmes took the bronze in 50.24 seconds.
Proud of girlfriend
Afterwards, Bol said that she said she had run her very best race and was also extremely happy for her best friend Lieke.
“I knew I hadn’t run my best race yet and I felt I was good. But I also knew I had to open hard and keep going. Of course I broke down, but I felt I could run through the acidification and I felt the support of the crowd. I simply ran my best race ever, won gold in a world record and saw Lieke win the silver. I can’t dream of much more and I am extremely proud,” said the world champion.