The name Femke Bol evokes a sense of reverence among track and field fans and for good reasons. The Dutch hurdler had two World Championships gold medals under her belt going into the 2024 Paris Olympics and was one of the favorites to win the 400mH race in the French capital as well. However, things didn’t pan out as the 24-year-old would have hoped for, and she was handed a sound defeat by the USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who also made a new Olympic record along with winning gold. But Bol’s fumble at the 250m mark had already made it clear that it wasn’t her day.
McLaughlin-Levrone breezed to a dominant first-place finish in Paris, clocking an impressive 50.37 seconds. Her performance secured a clear advantage over her arch-rival, Femke Bol, who finished with a time of 52.15 seconds. According to an American track icon, the outcome of the race was effectively decided in the first half, sealing Bol’s fate early on.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s opponent shouldn’t be judged on one bad day, says track veteran
Retired track runner and five-time Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin appeared for an episode of Ready Set Go podcast, uploaded on YouTube recently, and talked about how Femke was already looking at disappointment because of her initial fumble. “I know Femke Bol was hurt you know, and she didn’t see it going the way that she thought it was going to go,” said Gatlin, highlighting that even he was looking forward to seeing the Dutch star making ripples on the track at the event. However, all is not lost, at least that’s what Justin opines.
Claiming that this isn’t the end of the road for the hurdle specialist, Gatlin went on to say, “…you watch the growth of Femke Bol. Like, she did an amazing job throughout the season, the year before that. Like don’t take her growth for granted: she has done an amazing job and I think that’s not the last that we’ve seen of her.”
However, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had her own challenges to overcome on the grandest stage. Just days before the US Olympic Trials, she lost two toenails, making her journey particularly grueling. Despite the pain, the 25-year-old gritted her teeth and remained focused on her goal. While McLaughlin-Levrone rose above her difficulties to achieve spectacular results, Femke Bol fell short of seizing the opportunity.
Femke Bol faced insurmountable challenges
In a post-race interview with a Dutch TV channel, Bol talked about her heartbreak for having missed out on the chance to show the world that she could, in fact, take on McLaughlin-Levrone with a bit of luck. “Not because I didn’t win, but because I did one of my worst races when I needed one of my bests,” Femke was heard saying as the pain sipped onto her face. “Gave it my all, and left my heart on the track. It’s not the race and result I came for and that hurts,” she later said on Instagram.
However, taking a cue from Gatlin, Bol still has the world ahead of her and can bounce back from this setback if she remains dedicated. Her coach, Laurent Meuwly, also has a great deal of faith in Femke’s abilities, which indicates what she might achieve if she stays focused. What do you think? Share your thoughts with us!
The post “Femke Bol was Hurt”: Defeat to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Had a Valid Reason, Track and Field Legend Explains appeared first on EssentiallySports.
