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WATCH: Fans erupt in celebration at Netherlands watch party as Femke Bol anchors team to gold after trailing in 4x400m mixed relay
A watch party in the Netherlands celebrated with gusto as Femke Bol ran the anchor leg for the Dutch 4x400m mixed relay gold-winning team at the Paris Olympics 2024. The 24-year-old led the country to a gold medal, improving on their performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. The Netherlands' team had secured a fourth-place finish that year.
In 2021, the Netherland’s timing of 3:10.36 secured fourth place behind Poland, the Dominican Republic, and the USA. Nevertheless, their timing was the national record.
Bol’s pursuit of gold for her country in the 4x400m mixed relay was halted again, this time at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. The reigning 400m hurdles world champion tripped on the track which resulted in her team’s disqualification.
However, Bol made a statement run at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Her split time of 47.93s was a major part of the Netherlands bagging the gold.
As the Dutchwoman won the race in front of the USA’s Kaylyn Brown, she received massive cheers not only at the Stade de France but also at a watch party in the Netherlands.
A video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) showed fans jumping and cheering as Bol’s anchor performance won their country the long-awaited gold medal.
You can have a look at the celebrations in the video below:
The Netherlands’ timing was 3:07.43, ahead of the 3:07.74 of silver medalist USA and 3:08.01 of bronze medalist Great Britain.
As of now, the Netherlands has won a total of 15 gold medals at the Paris Olympics: six gold, five silver, and four bronze.
Femke Bol on 4x400m mixed relay race win at the Paris Olympics 2024
After clinching gold in the 4x400m mixed relay race at the Paris Olympics 2024, Femke Bol talked about her strategy, teamwork, and frustration with the 2023 world championship disqualification.
The athlete told Reuters she did not focus on her individual performance was focussed on “putting it together as a team”:
“I hoped to run that fast some time but in the relay you never look too much at split times,” she said.
"It’s more about putting it together as a team and technically you have to race it well."
She added,
"I just went for it. We just wanted a medal this time, we didn't think it would be gold, just a medal. Well, we got gold and are the Olympic champions. It is absolutely crazy for a small country like ours."
Bol also shared some insights into what propelled her:
"Just keep going, keep going. And my general anger from Budapest! That and my teammates cheering me. And the atmosphere in this stadium is absolutely incredible. It's crazy. So everything together," said Bol.
Bol will next compete in the 400m hurdles semifinals scheduled for August 6.
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