Femke Bol won gold in the 400 meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Thursday. The Netherlands is the main favorite to win the world title and live up to expectations.
It was the first world title for 23-year-old Bol, who won the final in 51.70. This was his second best time for Amersfoort. Only in July in London was he faster. Then he set a European record with 51.45.
Last year in Eugene, Bol had to settle for World Cup silver and Sydney McLaughlin took gold in the world record. The American did not participate in Budapest, which puts Bol in a class of his own. The defending European champions didn’t even have to perform optimally in the series and semifinals.
Bol was also in a class of his own in the final. He was one second faster than the number two, American Shamier Little (52.80). Bronze went to Rushell Clayton of Jamaica with a time of 52.81.
Last Saturday, Bol almost won his first world title, but then he fell as the last runner just before the finish in the mixed 4×400 meter race. He got revenge for that fall by taking gold on Thursday night.
Uitslag finale 400 meter horden
- Femke Bol (Ned) – 51,70
- Shamier Little (VS) – 52,80
- Rushell Clayton (Jam) – 52,81
- Kemi Adekoya (Bah) – 53,09
- Anna Cockrell (VS) – 53,34
- Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) – 54,19
- Janieve Russell (Jam) – 54,28
- Andrenette Knight (Jam) 55,20
Watch Femke Bol’s historic race at the World Championships in Athletics
Bol is the fourth Dutch world champion
Bol is the fourth Dutchman to call himself a world champion in athletics. Pole vaulter Rens Blom is the only one to win a World Cup gold medal in many years. He won the world title in 2005.
Blom was followed ten years later by Dafne Schippers, who was the best in the 200 meters in 2015 and 2017. Sifan Hassan has two world titles: 1,500 meters (2019) and 10,000 meters (2019).
Bol’s gold is the Netherlands’ third medal in this World Cup. Heptathletes Anouk Vetter and Hassan (1,500 meters) took bronze in Budapest. Next weekend, Bol could win another World Cup medal. She will then compete with the Dutch women in the 4×400 meter event.
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