Femke Bol sets 400m flat meet record at HBK Games 2024 weeks before the Paris Olympics

Femke Bol kicked off her 400m flat outdoor season with a win at the FBK Games 2024. She broke the meet record after clocking an impressive 50.02s.

Bol was impressive in the 2024 indoor season winning a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in the 400m flat. She lowered her world record in the distance to 49.17s a month after she had set the mark of 49.24s at the Dutch Indoor Championships.

However, she hadn't run the distance in the outdoor season until Sunday's FBK Games. The 24-year-old clocked 50.02s to win the event ahead of Martina Weil and Susanne Gogl-Walli, who finished in 51.05s and 51.21s for the second and third position respectively.

Femke Bol isn't running the 400m flat at the Paris Olympics 2024 and will be instead focusing on her premier event, 400m hurdles, just like her American rival and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. However, Bol intended to work on her speed and thus chose to run the 400m flat at the FBK Games.

“After the 200m during the national athletics championships the week before, I can work on my speed with this 400m as preparation for the Olympic Games and dot the i's,” Bol said (via World Athletics).

McLaughlin-Levrone also ran the 400m flat once this season, where she had set the world lead of 48.75s. The two haven't faced each other after the 2022 World Championships where the American had taken the gold while Bol finished with the silver medal.

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“I hope it will bring something nice for me battling with her”- Femke Bol on facing Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at Paris Olympics 2024

26th European Athletics Championships - Rome 2024: Day Six (Source: GETTY)

Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have faced each other very rarely over the 400m hurdles. The two first met at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the American set the 400m hurdles world record for the gold while Bol finished third in a European record time.

They next clashed at the 2022 World Championships where McLaughlin-Levrone triumphed again. At the 2023 World Championships, the American was out due to an injury, and Bol won the 400m hurdles gold medal. They are now slated to compete against each other at the Paris Olympics 2024, and the Dutch runner is hoping it brings the best out of her.

“It’s great she’s there and it’ll always be exciting and it will always bring some nice, like, nerves. “But at the same time, I’m always really focused on myself. I will just try to be a better athlete. I hope it will bring something nice for me to be battling with her," Bol expressed (via the Washington Post).

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be the overwhelming favorite to win gold at the Paris Olympics after lowering her world record to 50.65s at the US Olympic Trials. Femke Bol has a personal best of 52.49s this season and 51.45s overall. While she is a favorite for silver, the Dutch won't be content with anything less than gold.