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Femke Bol is the only one who can challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at Paris Olympics 2024, says Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson has stated that only Femke Bol can challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bol has been in impressive form lately. She ran 50.95 seconds in Switzerland recently to smash her own European record of 51.45 seconds. At the Diamond League in London a few days later, she set a new meet record (51.30 seconds) while cruising to victory in the women’s 400m hurdles.
The Dutch athlete, however, will be well challenged in Paris as she is set to go up against world record holder McLaughlin-Levrone. The American took home the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with Bol settling for bronze.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Johnson stated that fans could be in for a treat when these two go head-to-head at the Summer Games. He explained that both athletes are at their peaks currently, which will only add to the spectacle.
"This could also be great. This is a pure track rivalry without any back-and-forth off it. Femke Bol is the only one who can challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and the question, as always, is: will this be the time? Both are at their peak right now, both can break records and both are the best to ever do the event," Johnson said (via The Times).
"Femke is closer, but Sydney is showing she is a much better version of herself, breaking the world record again and clocking the second fastest time in the world this year in the 400m flat. Her speed is an absolute weapon," he added.
Femke Bol: "I am looking forward to racing Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone"
Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Femke Bol delivered a statement performance at the 10th Diamond League meeting of the season in London. Just one week after breaking her own European record, she set a Diamond League record of 51.30 seconds in the women's 400m hurdles.
After the event, she said that she was looking forward to giving her best at the Summer Games and stated that she was ready to face Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
"I truly love to run here in this stadium, it is so special and to put on this great field it is fantastic. I am super happy with my performance [in London]. I am excited for Paris and of course I want to put on my best race there. I am looking forward to racing Sydney. That will push us both. I will be ready for it," she told the media.
McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol remain the only two women to run the 400m hurdles in under 51 seconds. They will be going head-to-head in Paris for the first time since 2022.
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