Femke Bol is again world champion, after she was the best all year round in the 400 meters hurdles. But whether she will also be Olympic champion at the Los Angeles Games in three years, suddenly a lot more complicated after this World Cup. An analysis.
She was not there, because Sydney McLaughlin-Levron no longer runs 400 meters hurdles. And yet, after her golden hurdry final of Friday, Bol received questions about the American, who had run the fastest time in forty years in Tokyo in the 400 meters.
Her mouth had fallen out of surprise when seeing McLaughlin Wonder Race, said Bol. “Not normal. It is so special what Sydney now does in the 400 meters. She achieves such a high level.” Bol’s coach Laurent Meuwly went one step further. He called McLaughlin the best female athlete ever. Or as he said it rather striking: “Femke is from another planet, Sydney is from another universe.”
In fact, McLaughlin now does the 400 meters what she has done for years on the 400 meters of hurdles: winning and puting bizarre times.
The switch from McLaughlin to 400 meters this year made the road free for Bol in the direction of Olympic Hordengoud in 2028 in Los Angeles. Stay fit and then dominate for years, it seemed like motto. But through three sentences from McLaughlin in Tokyo everything is different.
McLaughlin is again like a question mark over Superiority Bol
What McLaughlin said? With the gold of the 400 meters around her neck, she told me to think of a combination at the 2028 Games: the 400 meters and the 400 meters of hurdles. It sounds like an insane plan. Compare it with Sifan Hassan who ran an Olympic marathon in Paris 10,000 meters in Paris. But yes, we all know how that ended. With gold.
Whether McLaughlin actually does it, we don’t know yet. A combination of the 400 meters and the 400 meters hurdles stands for six races (twice series, twice semi -finals and twice a final) within a few Olympic days. There must be enough space in the program in Los Angeles. No overlap, at least.
But that program still has to be made. Until that moment, McLaughlin is again like a question mark above the superiority of Bol on the 400 meter hurdles. And maybe longer.
“It’s all still far away. But if an athlete is possible, then it is Sydney,” said Meuwly. As a athletics enthusiast, he would applaud it if McLaughlin actually opts for the combination. Even though that may be at the expense of the chances for BOL on her first individual Olympic title.
Jones as a new challenger of Bol
Bol itself said it was “cool” if she has to walk against McLaughlin again on the 400 with hordes. The thought alone can be a new incentive for Bol to go even harder. Also with a view to what is behind her.
Two years ago – when McLaughlin was injured at home – Bol in Budapest became world champion for the first time. In the Hungarian capital, she ran more than a second faster than the number two: the then 28-year-old Shamier Little.
At the Golden Race in Bol in Tokyo, the number two remained closer nearby. The 23-year-old Jasmine Jones finished 0.53 seconds behind Bol and presented himself as the biggest challenger of the Dutch world champion. “I am hungry to take over Femke’s gold,” she said just after the finish.
Maybe it’s big speech. Maybe not either. Time will learn, just like with the special Olympic combination plan of McLaughlin. But it is clear that with an ambitious Jones and much more ambitious McRaughlin, there are interesting years for Bol. Suddenly on the 400 meters of hurdles all kinds of scenarios are open towards the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Femke Bol is Once Again A World Champion, After Being the Best in the 400-meter Hurdles All Year. But Whether she will also bee -olympic champion in three years at the games in Los Angeles is Suddenly a lot more complicated after this world cup. An analysis.
She was there, because sydney mclyhlin-levrone no longer runs the 400-meter Hurdles. And Yet Bol Received Questions After Her Golden Hurdles Final On Friday About The American, Who Ran The Fastest Time in Forty Years in the 400 meters in Tokyo.
Her Mouth had dropped in Dropped in Amazement at Seeing McLaughlin’s Miracle Race, Bol Said. “Unbelievable. It is so special What Sydney Is Doing Now in the 400 meters. She is Reaching Such A High Level.” Bol’s coach Laurent Meuwly Went One Step Further. He called McLaughlin the best female athlete ever. Or as he aptly put it earlier: “Femke is from Another Planet, Sydney is from Another Universe.”
In fact, McLaughlin is now doing in the 400 meters What she has done for years in the 400-meter hurdles: winning and setting bizarre times.
McLaughlin’s switch to the 400 meters this year paved the way for Bol Towards Olympic Hurdles was in Los Angeles in 2028. Staying fit and then dominating for years seemed to be the motto. But Everything is different because or three sentences from McLaughlin in Tokyo.
McLaughlin is Once Again Hanging Like A Question Mark about Bol’s Superiority
What did McLaughlin Say? With the gold from the 400 Meters around Her Neck, She Said She was Thinking of A Combination at the 2028 Games: Running the 400 meters and the 400-meter Hurdles. It sounds like a crazy plan. Compare it to Sifan Hassan Running an Olympic Marathon in Paris Two Days After Her Bronze 10,000 meters. But yes, we all know how that turned out. With gold.
Whether McLaughlin Will actual do it, we don’t know yet. A Combination of the 400 meters and the 400-meter Hurdles Stands for Six Races (Two Series, Two Semi-Finals and Two Finals) Within a Few Olympic Days. There must be Enough Space in the Program in Los Angeles. No overlap, at the very least.
But that program still has to be made. Until that moment, McLaughlin is Once Again Hanging Like A Question Mark about Bol’s Superiority in the 400-meter Hurdles. And Maybe just like.
“It’s all a long way off. But if any athlete can do it, it’s sydney,” meuwly said. As an Athletics Enthusiast, he would apply if mclaughlin actual chuoses the combination. Even if it might come at the Expense of Bol’s Chances of Her First Individual Olympic Title.
Jones as Bol’s New Challenger
Bol herself said she would find it as special “cool” if she had to run against mclaughlin again in the 400-meter Hurdles. The thought alone can be a new stimulus for bol to go just harder. Also with a view to what is behind her.
Two years ago – When McLaughlin was an injured at home – Bol Became World Champion for the First Time in Budapest. In The Hungarian Capital, She Ran More than A Second Faster Than The Number Two: The Then 28-Year-old Shamier Little.
In Bol’s Golden Race in Tokyo, The Number Two Stayed Closer. The 23-year-old Jasmine Jones Finished 0.53 Seconds Behind Bol and Presented Herself As The Biggest Challenger To The Dutch World Champion. “I am hungry to take over femke’s gold,” she said just after the finish.
Maybe it’s bravado. Maybe not. Time Will Tell, Just like with McLaughlin’s Special Olympic Combination Plan. But it is clear that with an amitious jones and an even more Ambitious McLaughlin, interesting year Coming for Bol. Suddenly, All Kinds of Scenarios are open in the 400-meter Hurdles Towards The Games in Los Angeles in 2028.