Twice reigning 400 metres hurdles world champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands announced on Friday that she will move up to the 800 metres next year. "The next chapter: 800m," Bol said on Instagram.
Twice reigning 400 metres hurdles world champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands announced on Friday that she will move up to the 800 metres next year.
"The next chapter: 800m," Bol said on Instagram.
"I’m really excited to share the next chapter of my career. It’s a big change, it’s uncertain and challenging, but I’m ready to put in the work, surrounded by an amazing team and enjoy this new journey."
Bol, 25, won 400m hurdles world titles in 2023 and last month, and has the second best time over the distance all-time at 50.95 seconds. Overall, she boasts 17 medals, including nine golds, from Olympics, worlds and European championships in the 400m, 400m hurdles, and 4x400m women's and mixed relays.
Bol's biggest hurdles rival, world record holder and twice Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, had moved to the 400m flat this year and won the world title in the second best time in history last month, clocking 47.78 seconds.
"I have learnt so much from hurdling and I really loved it. It will always have a special place in my heart. But I am ready for a next challenge, a new stimulus, a completely different kind of race. I am really excited to explore that," Bol said in an accompanying video.
The 800m have the longest standing women's world record, 1 minute 53.28 seconds Jarmila Kratochvilova of then Czechoslovakia set in 1983.
Bol's 800m best is listed by World Athletics at 2:19.51 from January 2017 at age 15 on an indoor track.
Her main 800m rivals are set to include world champion Lilian Odira of Kenya and British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson.
"Can't wait to share the start line," Hodgkinson said in the comments under Bol's post.
Category: General Sports
