“It’s a Shame”: Femke Bol Makes a Strong Admission Involving Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Before Worlds

For nearly half a decade, the women’s 400-meter hurdles have belonged to two athletes, and two athletes only. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol have not merely dominated the event. They have redefined it with the only sub-51-second times in history. Yet when the World Athletics Championships return next month, the most compelling rivalry in women’s track will be put on hold. McLaughlin-Levrone is skipping the hurdles. And Bol is not thrilled.

Last week, after winning the women’s 400m at the USATF Outdoor Championships with a season-best time of 48.90 seconds ahead of Isabella Whittaker (49.59) and Aaliyah Butler (49.91), a journalist asked McLaughlin-Levrone, “Will you do the 400 only in Tokyo, or would you consider trying to get the wild card…?” To this, the Olympic champion had responded, “No, we’ll focus just on the 400. Yeah. I think that’s a very daunting task in itself. It’s a very competitive field. So, I respect those competitors for sure, and I want to make sure I can give my all to those races.”

When the media personnel enquired, “Is it just for 2025, and then maybe do you guys rechart course for 2026?”, she further divulged, “Yeah, I think that for this year, 400…possibly the relays. Just pushing myself in this, and then, you know, each year is a new year. We’ll see what each one brings.” So, one thing is clear: For Femke Bol, her chance to outpace her fierce opponent is not a possibility this year.

So, expectedly, the Dutch athlete lamented to NOS earlier this week, “Maybe it’s a bit of a disappointment. It’s a shame.” Bol acknowledged that her chances of defending the world title have significantly improved. Still, the 24-year-old Dutch star made it clear she would prefer to win the hard way. “As a track and field enthusiast, I think it’s great that she’s going to do the 400,” she said after the 2nd-place finish at the National Championships’ 200-meter sprint. “But as an athlete, I’d love to run against her; that just hasn’t happened very often.”

“It’s always unique to compete against her. I love it, even though there’s a very good chance I’ll finish second,” Bol added. “She’s the very best ever in the event I do, so it remains special.” Bol has lost to McLaughlin-Levrone three times at major global championships: Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), the 2022 Worlds, and the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where McLaughlin-Levrone retained her title with another world-record run.

The timing of McLaughlin-Levrone’s switch comes just as Bol was set to chase her second world title in the event. She won gold in Budapest in 2023 when McLaughlin-Levrone was absent due to injury. While Bol will likely headline the hurdles in Tokyo, she also entered the 200m flat race, a signal of her expanding range.

Meanwhile, McLaughlin-Levrone’s entry into the 400 meters sets up a new battle, potentially against two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo and reigning 400m flat Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino.

The World Championships begin on September 13 and conclude on September 21. But the showdown everyone was hoping for, Bol vs. McLaughlin-Levrone over the hurdles, will have to wait. Perhaps, once again, until the Olympics.

However, despite every ounce of disappointment, Bol did not fail to acknowledge the caliber of her rival.

Top Comment by Pammypies

I thought maybe one day she might become a decathlete …

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Femke Bol hails Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as the finest in 400m hurdles

Femke Bol does not speak of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as a rival to be overcome, but as a figure whose excellence shapes the standards of their event. When asked about the American, Bol’s words were unhesitating. “She’s the best to ever do it.” The remark was not a concession, but rather an acknowledgment from one champion to another, rooted in admiration for an athlete whose performances continue to redefine the outer limits of the 400m hurdles.

Bol’s respect extends beyond McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in their shared event.

“I always love to see her race,” she exclaimed, noting the American’s willingness to compete in the 100m hurdles and even the 100m flat. In Bol’s view, such a range is rare. The ability to excel across disciplines is what makes her opponent remarkable. Observing these ventures is, she admitted, “always a joy,” suggesting that her own motivation is fueled as much by witnessing McLaughlin-Levrone’s versatility as by contesting her supremacy.

With McLaughlin-Levrone’s schedule keeping them apart until the World Championships, the Dutch runner’s focus remains on her own progression. Yet, the prospect of meeting the world record holder in peak form is never far from her mind.

Hopefully they’ll meet soon. And the one thing we can say for sure is: It’ll be a race worth remembering for sure.