Just a week ago, Femke Bol was out in Monaco for the Diamond League, lining up for the women’s 400m hurdles. Sure, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone — the queen of the event — wasn’t there, but that didn’t stop Femke from going all in. As soon as the gun went off, she hit her usual smooth, fast start to build early momentum. And by the end? She clocked 51.95 seconds — the fastest time in the world this season. That was win number four for her in the 400m hurdles this year. And guess what? She’s back at it again this weekend. But really, what do all these stats even mean?

Well, the Dutch star isn’t really bothered about who lines up next to her these days — especially in the Diamond League. She hasn’t lost a single women’s hurdles race there in the last five years. This season alone, she’s stacked up 24 points already, easily booking her spot in the final. Still, she’s showing up for the next Diamond League stop in London. Why? She didn’t exactly spill the tea. But one thing’s for sure — the mindset she’s bringing? It sounds like a warning shot for Sydney.

On July 17, Femke Bol showed up for the press conference and, of course, the Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone rivalry came up. But the 25-year-old didn’t seem all that locked in on her American rival. Instead, she said, “I think I’m just focused on my own process on my own race. I think there’s Sydney but there’s also Dalilah. There’s also Anna. We have a lot of great athletes right now racing, which is really exciting.” And she’s right. Dalilah Muhammad, in her final track season, is bringing that old fire back. In Monaco, she dropped a 52.58 to set a new Master’s World Record. She’s now just 2 points behind Femke in the Diamond League standings.

Anna Cockrell, though, isn’t having the best time in the Diamond League this season. She’s sitting in 10th place with just 6 points. But the field isn’t short on fresh faces trying to shake up the usual Sydney-Femke-Dalilah dominance in the women’s 400m hurdles. And Femke’s taking all of them seriously. As for how she’s feeling about her own form? “I’m feeling good. I think the scene is progressing like we wanted to,” she said. Right now, her focus is fully on the Diamond League. But once that’s done, she’s definitely got her eyes on an even bigger prize.

At the press conference, Femke Bol made it clear what’s next.  “After this, I go back to a training block and then I’ll be getting ready for the less races and then worlds,” she said. The World Championships in Tokyo are still over 50 days away, and Femke already has her ticket thanks to her bye. But she’s not planning to leave anything to chance. She’s the defending champ, and this time, there’s a real shot at finally facing Sydney — a matchup that didn’t happen in 2023 because Sydney had to skip the meet because of injury. So, what’s gonna go down in Tokyo? 

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol might have a full-circle moment in Tokyo 

Femke Bol’s Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 was more than just a bronze medal — it was the spark that lit her fire. She clocked 52.03 seconds, finishing behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and just like that, a new track rivalry was born. That rivalry? Still burning hot.

Since then, Femke’s been steadily climbing, sharpening her times, tightening her technique. But don’t think Sydney’s sitting back. The New Jersey native has been flawless in the women’s 400m hurdles on the Grand Slam Track circuit this year. Her confidence? Sky-high. She’s even stepped into events like the sprint hurdles and 400m flat, showing she’s not just here to play — she’s here to dominate.

Sydney’s so locked in on the Tokyo World Championships that she pulled out of the Ed Murphey Classic last week when she wasn’t feeling 100%. No risks, no distractions. So what’s next? Simple: Tokyo is setting the stage for an epic showdown. Femke vs. Sydney — the rematch we’ve all been waiting for. Get ready for fireworks.