This season's 400-meter hurdle competition between Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone has officially began in athletics.
Following the 400-meter hurdles world lead achieved by the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder McLaughlin-Levrone on Friday, May 31, in her season debut, her Dutch opponent won the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, June 2, with a time of 53.07.
Bol, defeated Jamaicans Rushell Clayton (53.78) and Andrenette Knight (54.62), who also made her season debut. Bol, 24, took home the bronze at Tokyo 2020 in 2021 before winning the world championship in Budapest during the previous season without McLaughlin-Levrone.
After winning the 400-meter indoor title in early March and assisting the Dutch mixed 4x400-meter relay team in earning an Olympic quota spot at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas last month, this is her first major step towards the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
She said, "I'm very excited about Paris." I try not to think about it too much because I feel like it can be a little stressful and lessen my enjoyment of it. As the race draws nearer, I simply try to appreciate every one of them. When I go there, I want to be prepared. It's a huge, incredible phenomenon. I'm quite excited to go there."
Femke Bol VS Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Bol finished third in Tokyo, trailing McLaughlin-Levrone and Dalilah Muhammad. McLaughlin set a world record with his gold medal run of (51.46). In 2022, Bol won silver at the Worlds, where McLaughlin became the first female sub-51 finisher in the event at (50.68).
As the Paris Games approach, the Dutchwoman says she will continue to concentrate on her personal development. She is scheduled to compete at the European Championships in Rome from June 7–12.
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