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WATCH: Femke Bol runs remarkable anchor leg as Netherlands snatch 4x400m relay gold from USA during final moments at Paris Olympics
Femke Bol, the world record-breaking 400m short track specialist, anchored the Netherlands to a dominant victory in the mixed 4x400m relay, securing her first Olympic gold medal. The triumph comes after Bol claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing behind American rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Bol, the reigning world champion in the 400m hurdles, also led the Netherlands to victory in the 400m relay at the 2023 World Championships. However, the Dutch team experienced heartbreak in the mixed 4x400m relay when Bol fell just meters from the finish line, resulting in a DNF.
Determined to redeem herself after the devastating fall at the World Championships, Femke Bol anchored the Netherlands' mixed 4x400m relay team to victory on August 3, 2024. Her extraordinary anchor leg of 47.93 seconds propelled the team to a European record-breaking time of 3:07.43. In a video posted by the NBC Olympics & Paralympics' X handle, the 24-year-old was seen surging past the competition in the final meters.
The 4x400m mixed relay team, which also featured Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, and Isaya Klein Ikkink, celebrated with ecstatic jumps.
"Femke Bol is UNREAL," the caption read.
Femke Bol has had a stellar 2024 season so far. At the Dutch Indoor Athletics Championships, the Dutch improved her own 400m short track world record by clocking a time of 49.24s. She further lowered her record to 49.17s at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
Bol then clocked 50.95 s in the 400m hurdles at the Résisprint International in La Chaux-de-Fonds, also setting a European record in the process in 50.95s. She also became only the second to go sub-51s in the distance after world record holder Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone.
Bol concluded her pre-Paris preparations with a dominant performance at the London Athletics Meet. She not only clinched victory in the 400m hurdles but also shattered both the Diamond League and her own meeting records, clocking an impressive time of 51.30 seconds.
Femke Bol ready to take the 400m hurdles track head-on with Sydney McLaughlin
Femke Bol has not faced Sydney McLaughlin head-to-head since their 2022 World Championship encounter. Bol's previous Olympic experience saw her claim bronze in the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo 2020 Games, finishing behind McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad with a time of 52.03 seconds.
Bol has significantly improved her 400m hurdles times, recently breaking her European record with a time of 50.95 seconds, while McLaughlin-Levrone further solidified her dominance by lowering the world record to 50.45 seconds at the US Olympic Trials. As such, the stage is set for an epic showdown.
The arch-rivals will finally face off in the 400m hurdles round 1 on August 4.
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