“I swear if you close your eyes, you could convince yourself Mickey Mouse has just broken the 400m indoor world record for Netherlands…” It was meant as a joke—a throwaway comment under a viral clip. But that one line turned into something massive. The video racked up over 23 million views, not because of the historic athletic feat it captured, but because of the way the Olympic gold-medalist’s voice sounded in a moment of raw emotion.

Yes. Last year, Femke Bol had just done the unimaginable—shattered her own world indoor record in the women’s 400m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, cementing herself as one of the greatest athletes of our time. She recorded a time of 49.17 seconds, which shattered her previous record of 49.24 seconds set just two weeks prior at the Dutch national championships in Apeldoorn. It should’ve been all about power, precision, and the poetry of the perfect race. Instead, the spotlight veered off course.

What should’ve been a career-defining moment turned into a meme. Suddenly, people weren’t talking about Bol’s blistering time or brilliant finish. They were mimicking her voice, chuckling at her tone, reducing a triumphant athlete to a punchline. And how did that feel? In a recent conversation with Robbert Rodenburg, Femke Bol reflected on the fallout.

“I thought it was a shame,” she said. “I became world champion, set a world record, and then I’m in the cafeteria one day and someone says, ‘You must have gained a lot of followers.’ At first, I didn’t know what they meant. She said, ‘Cool, right? That you went viral?’ And then I said, ‘I don’t really know if I’m happy about going viral like that.’”

That clip may have made millions laugh, but for Femke, it left a mark. Because while the internet gained a soundbite, she lost something far more personal: the dignity of being celebrated for her achievement, not amusement. However, Femke remained unapologetic about her voice. 

Meanwhile, the Dutch athlete said, “It doesn’t surprise me because I know my voice is very high, especially after a race.” It was a simple truth, delivered with grace. The Dutch sprint queen further stated how the viral clip didn’t derail her spirit. Instead, it gave her another reason to own her story, not shrink from it. “I think interviews are part of the job after a race,” she explained. “It’s also a way to share your experience and let people know how the race went. Of course, the first time I thought, ‘Oh, my voice is high again.’ But I quickly let that go. If people don’t want to hear it, they can just mute it and watch me run,” That’s Femke Bol for you—unbothered, unapologetic, and unstoppable. Still, behind her calm defiance is a strong support system—one person in particular who’s helped her silence the outside noise: her partner, Ben Broeders.

When the ridicule tried to rattle her, Broeders’ words were steady: “He [Ben Broeders] always says, ‘Don’t let it get to you. Just do your own thing. You know who you are and what you do.’” And she does. Femke Bol isn’t just the woman with the “Mickey Mouse” voice. She’s a world record holder, a world champion, and one of the fiercest competitors on the planet—with or without the viral clip. But there was a situation this year. 

The Olympic athlete made an important decision 

Last year, after setting the track ablaze at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Femke Bol wasn’t just celebrated—she was sensationalized. But this year? The 25-year-old Dutch phenom took a different route.

“After the last Olympic cycle with years full of amazing competitions indoors and outdoors, we’ve decided to do it a bit different this year,” Bol shared, explaining her absence from this year’s indoor worlds.

And while fans may have missed her explosive solo performances on the indoor circuit, she didn’t leave the season empty-handed. Bol made a powerful statement at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, anchoring her team to victory in the 4x400m mixed relay on the short track. A gold medal—just without the noise this time. So, what’s next?

All eyes are now on the outdoor season, where Bol is expected to make her return and reignite her campaign toward the 2025 World Championships and, ultimately, the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. While the official date of her outdoor debut hasn’t been locked in publicly, one thing is certain: when she hits the track, it won’t just be her speed that grabs attention—it’ll be her story. Stay tuned. The Femke Bol comeback arc is just getting started.