Medal hungry Femke Bol from the Netherlands is going for another golden hat-trick at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships.
The Dutch superstar has confirmed her intention to run both the women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m as well as her favoured 400m hurdles event at the championships which take place 7-12 June.
Two years ago, the world 400m hurdles champion, pulled off an audacious and unprecedented one lap triple in the 400m hurdles, 400m and women’s 4x400m at the Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships.
While she won’t attempt the 400m flat this time, she will still be fighting for medals on three albeit slightly different fronts.
“This year we decided to do a little bit less, but I will still be racing both relays,” she said, speaking at the official press conference at the Foro Italico on the eve of Roma 2024. “I’ll be starting tomorrow (7) night and I’ll be defending my 400m hurdles title. So I am really excited to go out there first with the team and then alone.
“For the Olympics also, the relays are really important for us now. We are also world champions on the women’s side. I’m looking forward to this whole season, but first up, Europeans.”
As European record holder over 400m hurdles (51.45) and world indoor record holder in the 400m (49.17), Bol is no stranger to quick times and she is confident that Roma 2024 presents the type of stage on which she often thrives.
“I’ve raced here before, but it’s such an amazing stadium,” she said. “It’s so huge and the track is brand new - I believe. I was happy to try it and try my hurdles. I must say, it felt fast and it has smooth bends, so I am happy.”
Mihambo relishing head-to-head against home favourite Iapichino
Germany’s Malaika Mihambo is another proven championship performer. The Olympic and two-time world gold medallist in the long jump, has won a medal of every colour at the European Athletics Championships.
Having won gold in Berlin 2018 and silver at Munich 2022 in front of a home crowd, she has a different challenge ahead at Roma 2024, with big Italian hope Larissa Iapichino also in the start lists.
“It will be a different crowd, but nevertheless I am really motivated,” she said. “I am looking forward to it. I think it will be a really good, watched, competition because we have Larissa competing. Right now, she is in the number one position in Europe [she leads the 2024 European outdoor list with 6.88m).
“So, I think the crowd will be on fire, they will be on her side. But we will still make the best of it. And I think the Italian audience is also really diplomatic and cheering for all of the other ones. I am ready to handle it. Sometimes it is like that - you are not the number one favourite. But still there is energy and you can draw it out of the audience.
“We have a good competition situation and this will put pressure on all of us and in the end, I think we will all compete better than we would without that pressure.”
The Stadio Olimpico already holds cherished memories for Mihambo. “Rome for me is the competition where for the first time I jumped seven metres (2019 Golden Gala, 7.07m), so I am really looking forward to jumping here again,” she said.
The long jump competitions will also be uniquely placed on a three-metre platform, bringing the competition even closer to the crowd. But Mihambo is characteristically unperturbed.
“I’ve never been on a platform like this. It is three metres high. But I have a good feeling about it. I don’t have any fears or feel bad about platforms. I will handle it. I will do my best. In the end it’s more about what you do in your head,” she added.
Johnson-Thompson: "The heptathlon is always like spinning plates"
No less experienced, yet making her Rome debut, is two-time world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson. The British athlete is looking forward to the experience.
“It’s my first time competing in Rome,” she said. “I’ve been here as a spectator of the Diamond League here once before. The stadium is incredible. I love the view on the drive in. I feel that always adds to the occasion and hopefully a good performance can come out.”
It will be Johnson-Thompson’s first multi-event since her brilliant gold medal winning performance at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest. “It’s my first heptathlon of the year, so I don’t really know what to expect,” she said.
“You never know what to expect in (your) first heptathlon. In two days, we will find out if the training has been going well.
“My hopes and expectations are to put a performance out that my training shows. That’s ultimately what I want to do over the next couple of days.
“My training has been going well. Some events, better than others. But the heptathlon is always like spinning plates. I just want to put it all together and see what I get.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics