Femke Bol runs second best time of her career at London Diamond League ahead of Olympic Games

Femke Bol clocked an impressive 51.30s to take victory in the 400m hurdles at the London Diamond League, the last installment before the marquee Games in Paris. She was coming fresh off her Résisprint International win in the 400m hurdles, which saw her going below 51s, only the second woman in history to do so.

Bol, 24, holds the short track world record in the 400m, which she achieved by running 49.17s at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. At the 2024 European Championships in Rome, she successfully defended her title by clocking 52.49s in the 400m hurdles, her result equating to 1253 points, securing the women's Golden Crown. Her time was also a European championship record.

In one of the Olympic tune-up races, the Résisprint International in La Chaux-de-Fond, Femke Bol secured the 400m hurdles win by clocking a remarkable 50.95s, breaking the 51s barrier. Her effort made her the second woman to do so after did Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone did it in 2022. Bol's time also lowered her own European record and was the third-fastest time in 400m hurdles history.

Aiming to maintain her winning streak, the 24-year-old Dutch athlete participated in the last Diamond League installment before the Paris Olympics, in London.

Bol clocked 51.30s, the fourth-fastest time in history, on Saturday and soared to victory in the 400m hurdles. Her effort also set a new meeting record in the Olympic build-up event in London.

Bol took the 400m hurdles bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, the gold going to world record holder Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone. The hurdling arch-rivals will face each other in Paris very soon, both vying for the gold and perhaps the world record.

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Femke Bol on rival Sydney McLaughlin - "I have a lot of respect for her"

Femke Bol at the 26th European Athletics Championships - Rome 2024 [Getty]

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone holds the world record with a time of 50.65s, which she clocked at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. Femke Bol recently ran 50.95s to clock the second-fastest time, just 0.30s behind the world record holder.

Amid a growing on-track rivalry, Bol shared that she has immense respect for McLaughlin-Levrone. She said she respected her American rival for her commitment and work ethic and was looking forward to seeing her in Paris.

"Of course, we're friendly and we're with the same sponsor. We both realise that the 400m hurdles is not an easy event and I have a lot of respect for her. I know how committed and hard-working she is. We don't see each other a lot but we'll see each other in Paris!" she said in an interview with Athletics Weekly.

McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol will go head-to-head in the women's 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics with the first round on August 4, 2024.