Olympic gold medalist. 3-time World Champion. 5-time European champion. With countless wins and titles to her name, the Netherlands’ Femke Bol entered the Tokyo World Athletics Championships with the weight of her past achievements, with the weight of expectation, on her shoulders. And once again, as she has done so many times before, Bol rose to the occasion, defending her 400m hurdles world title with an impressive world-leading time of 51.54 seconds. She showed off her impeccable form en route, cruising through the heats and semis with such ease that you’d think the gold medal was hers before she’d even run the race.

This win is her sixth world championship medal in different events, highlighting her as one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes in track and field. Track and Field Gazette shared on X that “Femke Bol is the World 400mH Champion!!! She defends her title in Tokyo with a World Lead (WL) of 51.54s ahead of a really strong Jasmine Jones, who ran a huge PB of 52.08s for Silver. Emma Zapletalova won Bronze in 53.00s.”

The much-awaited final had three American athletes—Jasmine Jones, Anna Cockrell, and Dalilah Muhammad—falling short against Bol’s incredible performance. Even though Jones hit a personal best of 52.08 seconds, she just couldn’t catch up to Bol, who powered through the home straight. Cockrell came in fourth with a time of 53.13, and veteran Muhammad, who’s a former Olympic champion, took seventh place at 54.82. Which is to say that Bol faced some stiff competition, making her win all the more impressive.

Bol’s tactical execution was spot on; she got off to a strong start and kept up a tough pace that set her apart from the competition. She clocked in at 51.54, which is the fourth-fastest time of her career and her best at a major championship, highlighting how she knows how to step up when it counts. For the Americans, Jones’s silver is, but the overall loss highlights how unbeatable Bol is right now in this event.

With this win, Bol is really solidifying her legacy, which already includes Olympic medals and world records. Now, she’s successfully defended her world title, making it clear that she’s the athlete to watch in the hurdles for years ahead. But do you remember how disappointed she was when the Dutch athlete found out her rival wasn’t competing in the 400mH?

Femke Bol wanted to win the hard way

“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,” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone said when asked about competing in the 400mH at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships. After resetting the 400mH world record on six occasions since 2021, it was time for a new challenge: the 400m flat. A race that wasn’t her best, but soon might be, after she dominated the 400m on Friday, taking home gold.

But what about Femke Bol, her old rival? While other athletes may relish the opportunity of racing in the absence of their closest competitor, Bol’s mindset shows why she’s a champion. When asked about McLaughlin-Levrone’s exit, Bol said, “Maybe it’s a bit of a disappointment. It’s a shame. As a track and field enthusiast, I think it’s great that she’s going to do the 400. 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. She’s the very best ever in the event I do, so it remains special.”

The Dutch athlete has faced McLaughlin-Levrone three times at big global championships: the Tokyo Olympics (Gold: McLaughlin-Levrone; Bronze: Bol), the 2022 Worlds (Gold: McLaughlin-Levrone; Silver: Bol), and the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where McLaughlin-Levrone defended her title with yet another world-record performance and Bol settled for bronze again. Bol will have to wait till next year to potentially settle the score, but for now she can enjoy her reign as the 400mH world champion.