Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t wait for the season to warm up. She herself set it on fire. She dropped a 52.07 in the 400m hurdles in early May, then followed it with a sizzling 49.69 in the flat 400. Without a doubt, she looked sharp, ruthless, and ready. Just statement after statement on American soil. The kind that makes you check the calendar twice: Is it really only May? On the other hand, Femke Bol hadn’t raced a single individual event. She’d been missing from the starting blocks, choosing relays and silence over solo battles. Fans wondered. Rivals raced. And Sydney? She ran on, unanswered. Until Sunday, Bol finally started her outdoor season. And she had a statement to make.

You know what they say about making an entrance? Well, Femke Bol absolutely nailed it in Rabat! After months away from individual competition, the Dutch superstar announced her presence with authority in her first solo race since September, and honestly, you’d never know she’d been away. Bol absolutely stormed to victory in the 400m hurdles at the Rabat Diamond League, clocking an incredible 52.46 seconds, the second-fastest time in the world this year!

Only Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s blistering 52.07 stands ahead of her. Oh, and did we mention? She also smashed the meet record while she was at it. It was Bol’s first outdoor meet this year, the first one after she anchored the Netherlands to gold in the mixed 4x400m relay, helping set a time of 3:15.63. It was his first solo race as well. Well, speaking to Citius MAG after her dominant Rabat performance, Bol was refreshingly honest about her decision: “I was thinking it would be, but I actually had so much peace with my decision to not do it that I could really enjoy watching it. I could enjoy watching Lika winning the 400 meters, so I actually enjoyed it.”

She went on to explain: “I enjoyed the tough trainings. I enjoyed not having the stress that I usually put on myself when I’m competing—so no, not really. And of course, I competed in 4x4s. It was something to look forward to during indoors.”

With Bol back in blazing form, all eyes now shift to when and where she’ll finally clash with McLaughlin-Levrone next.

Where is the Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone rivalry headed next?

Needless to say, a huge showdown is brewing in track and field, and it might just explode at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Two of the biggest names in the 400m hurdles right now, Sydney and Femke, who gave fans an ultimate blast last year at the Paris Olympics.  Sydney didn’t just win, but she broke her own world record, running 50.37. That’s just insane.

Bol, who had led most of the race, ended up with bronze after getting passed late by Anna Cockrell, who dropped a crazy 51.87 personal best. It wasn’t the outcome Bol wanted, but let’s be real, she’s no underdog coming to the 2025 season. She owns the European record (50.95), and is still the only woman besides Sydney to go under 51 seconds. That makes her the top threat.

Right now, Sydney’s switching things up. After crushing the 400m hurdles and flat 400m earlier this season, she’s now trying the 100m hurdles—set to run them in the next Grand Slam Track meet in Philly. But let’s not kid ourselves. Most people expect her to come back to her main event by Worlds.

And before Tokyo? There’s a real chance they meet again—maybe at a Diamond League or another Grand Slam stop. These two don’t back down from top-tier races. So yeah, fireworks are coming. Maybe soon. Maybe in Tokyo.