The whole of the Netherlands was glued to the TV tonight: because our Femke Bol was in action at the much-discussed Olympic final 400 meter hurdles. The duel broke out between world and Olympic record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and world champion Femke Bol. McLaughlin, training with Bobby Kersee, the former coach of sprint phenomenon Florence Griffith Joyner, wins the race in an unparalleled world record of 50.37. Bol wins the Olympic bronze in 52.15. The American Anna Cockrell surprisingly dives under 52 seconds and wins silver in 51.87.
Femke Bol takes Olympic bronze in the 400 meter hurdles
At 21:25 it was time. Femke Bol started in lane 6, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone below her in lane 5. After winning the gold medal in the 4×400 mixed, running the 400mh series the next morning was a tough combination. Fortunately, Bol felt fresher after the semi-final and was even able to save energy. She told the NOS: ‘I pushed my 14-step a bit further than during the series. I was able to save energy in the last part, I’m satisfied.’
McLaughlin-Levrone spoke to Eurosport after her semi-final: ‘I’ve never raced in a stadium like this with so many athletics fans, it’s really amazing. I’m looking forward to the final. I know we (Femke and she) will push each other to the maximum result.’
After the start it was soon clear who the two favourites of the field were. Bol and McLaughlin-Levrone quickly have a gap on the rest of the field. Until about 250 metres it is equal, but then a gap opens up between the American and Bol. In the last 100 metres the American Cockrell comes up strongly and accelerates past Bol before the last hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone crosses the finish line in an unparalleled world and Olympic record: 50.37. Cockrell runs a personal record of 51.87 and Bol crosses the finish line in 52.15.
‘It was all or nothing.’ – coach Laurent Meuwly
After the race, Femke’s trainer, Laurent Meuwly, commented on the race: ‘She had to open in 24.0 to stay with the field and that is too fast for her. But she did it and risked everything to run faster than ever. In her race for gold, she loses silver. But this has nothing to do with her form (she jogged 52.5 2 days ago) but with the way she had to run to try to win. She could have won silver if she had raced for it. Of course there is disappointment about the fact that we did not have the best performance in the final today. But it was all or nothing.’
‘I would rather have had a good race and bronze than a bad race and bronze.’ – Femke Bol
Femke responded shortly after her race to the NOS: ‘I came for the best race of my life and I’m running one of the worst. It was an extra blow when someone ran over me, I didn’t expect that. Then I took an extra step to the last hurdle, which is stupid. I would have rather had a good race and bronze than a bad race and bronze.’
Strong first day in the women’s heptathlon
In the evening session, the first event, the shot put, saw two PRs for the Dutch. Sofie Dokter threw the shot 13.97 meters and Oosterwegel 14.54 meters. Vetter scored a lot of points with her throw of 15.07. Only the Belgian Nafi Thiam did better in this event. The last event of the first day of the heptathlon was concluded with the 200 meters. In the second series, Oosterwegel ran 24.35, finishing 6th. Dokter surprised and finished second in 23.73, just behind one of the favorites of the heptathlon: Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Dokter’s 200 meters was the third fastest time of the entire field. Vetter crossed the finish line in 24.36. After day 1 Oosterwegel is in 10th place with 3743 points, Oosterwegel is in 9th place with 3767 points. Doctor takes the lead of the Dutch women and ends day 1 in a handsome 5th place with 3893 points.
Curious which athletes will be in action tomorrow? See the full athletics program here.
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