"It’s not the race and result I came for and that hurts"- Femke Bol opens up on winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics
Femke Bol spoke about her 400m hurdles race at the Paris Olympics after the conclusion of the quadrennial Games. The Dutch athlete expressed dissatisfaction with her performance but was proud about giving her best effort at the Paris Olympics.
Bol marched into the Olympics as one of the top prospects in contention for the podium in the women's 400m hurdles after blistering performance in the 2024 season before the quadrennial games. The Dutch athlete clocked her new personal best in the 400m hurdles at La Chaux-de-Fonds a month before the Olympics, which stood at 50.95s.
On the other hand, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone created a new world record at the U.S. Olympic trials clocking 50.65s.
With both athletes in peak form, fans anticipated an incredible showdown in the French Capital. McLaughlin-Levrone went on to break the world record once again with a time of 50.37s, thereby successfully defending her title. Bol could not hold on to her pace in the final stretch of the race and finished third with a performance of 52.15.
She took to Instagram to share her thoughts about her performance in the 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics.
"OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST🥉Gave it my all, and left my heart on the track. It’s not the race and result I came for and that hurts. However, I’m proud of myself and my team for winning the second individual Olympic medal and for putting it all on the line to not have any regrets," she wrote.
Moreover, she thanked fans and her team for their unwavering support.
"The stadium that turned orange during the final night was truly magical. Thank you to everyone who was there that night I felt soooo supported: before, during and after the race 🧡", she added.
Femke Bol's Paris Olympics campaign
Femke Bol participated in three events at the Paris Olympics - 400m hurdles, women's 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay. The Dutch athlete anchored her team to a victory in the mixed 4x400m relay with a blistering performance in the final stretch, taking the team from the third position to Olympic glory. Bol registered a split time of 47.93s to win the gold medal.
She went to compete in the women's 4x400m relay where the team won the silver medal with an overall time of 3:19.50, creating a new Dutch record in the process. Femke Bol registered an anchor leg split time of 48.62s.
Bol concluded her Paris Olympics campaign with three medals and also got the honor of being her country's flag bearer in the closing ceremony.