“Hengelo is one of the most special competitions out there, and on top of that, I’ll be running my specialty, the 400m hurdles,” said Femke Bol ahead of her much-anticipated return to the FBK Games. After a quiet indoor season limited to just two relay legs at the European Indoors, the Dutch star is back in rhythm. And back on home soil with her eyes locked on something much bigger. Chasing Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s world record of 50.37. Coming off a blistering season opener of 52.46 in Rabat. Her fastest ever first race, Bol is carrying major momentum into Monday’s Continental Tour Gold meet.
What makes it even more intriguing is the evolving storyline. With McLaughlin-Levrone exploring the flat 400m and testing out the Grand Slam Track League’s sprint innovations, Bol may have a golden runway to push the boundaries of the 400m hurdles. She’s already started that push with a new block-start technique and is fresh from a focused training camp in Morocco alongside Dutch teammates Nadine Visser and Lieke Klaver.
Now, back in Hengelo, where she set a 400m flat meeting record last year, Bol is primed to attack her signature event and perhaps, a final warning shot to her rivals. Femke Bol’s return to top form isn’t fueled by hype. It’s built on detail. Her recent training camps have revolved around strength and razor-sharp efficiency. From perfecting stride patterns to rehearsing the tiniest technical adjustments, she’s focused on finding those invisible advantages that shave fractions off the clock.
As Bol herself put it, “Now it’s about focusing on the small goals again. Improving, rather than just chasing medals. I hope I can keep doing it for a long time, and keep improving even in small ways, working hard to shave off just a few tenths of a second. I prefer to let my legs do the talking instead of saying too much.” For most athletes, the idea of dipping under 51 seconds in the 400m hurdles once seemed like fantasy.
For Bol in 2025, it feels inevitable. Just a matter of choosing the right moment. Whether it comes on the Diamond League circuit or under the lights at the World Championships in September, the stars feel aligned. In that one quote lies the quiet fire of a champion who knows she’s not done rewriting history. And as both Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone orbit toward their next peak, the 400m hurdles world record is suddenly on high alert.
That familiar sight of Bol charging through the finish, arms wide. Joy splashed across her face has become one of track and field’s most cherished images. Fans were treated to it once more in March, when she led the Netherlands to victory. In both the mixed and women’s 4x400m relays at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.
It marked her first appearance since her medal haul at the Paris 2024 Olympics: gold in the mixed relay, silver in the women’s 4x400m, and bronze in her signature hurdles event. Afterward, she stepped away to reflect and recharge. Now, refreshed and refocused, Bol’s back and the track world better brace for what’s next.
McLaughlin-Levrone vs. Bol: The rivalry building toward a Tokyo showdown
The post Femke Bol Makes Bold Admission as Track and Field Drops Warning for Rivals Ahead of Highly Anticipated Return appeared first on EssentiallySports.
