Why Femke Bol is in no rush to follow rival Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to fully transition to the flat 400m

Dutch hurdler sensation Femke Bol has opened up about the challenges she would face if she were to follow in the footsteps of her great American rival, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, by fully transitioning into the flat 400-meter race.

Bol’s comments come after McLaughlin-Levrone, who has already cemented her legacy as one of the greatest sprinters in the 400-meter hurdles, showcased her speed at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels last Friday (September 13). McLaughlin-Levrone, now 25, has broken the 400m hurdles world record six times and successfully defended her Olympic title with a dominant display, leaving Bol trailing behind.

Now, speculation has grown that McLaughlin-Levrone will focus solely on the flat 400m, especially after leading Team USA to gold in the 4x400m relay at the World Championships last August.

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Bol, however, is approaching the idea of a full transition to the 400m flat with caution. The Dutch star has already built a stellar career, becoming McLaughlin-Levrone’s closest competitor and winning gold at the World Championships in Budapest last year, as well as securing a bronze medal at this year’s Olympics.

Bol also proved herself in the mixed relays, playing a pivotal role in helping the Netherlands capture gold in Paris last month. Furthermore, she holds the indoor world record in the 400m, clocking 49.17 seconds on March 2, 2024.

Despite her impressive record in both the hurdles and relay events, Bol admitted she’s not in a rush to fully shift to the 400m flat, explaining the difficulties involved after she won the Diamond League final in the 400m hurdles in Brussels last week.

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“I think it is just hard because I did that in Munich 2022 (European Championships), I did combine it, but then one of the two is going to be less good because, for me, there is a different way of racing for both, and feeling the pace is really hard,”

She reflected on her performances in both the flat and hurdles races this year, adding, “This year, even though not under great conditions, I hit 50.0 (in the 400m flat) and then two weeks later hit 50.9 in the 400mH, which shows the 400 was not really a good race.”

Bol acknowledged that her preference for the hurdles comes from how much she enjoys the event but left the door open for the possibility of transitioning in the future. “Of course I would like it because I have a faster indoor PB but outdoor PB which is now how it should be, but I like my hurdles because that is what I prioritize. But who knows? Maybe I will do it, but as long as I am good in the 4×4 races, it is enough.”