Dutch phenomenon Femke Bol has committed to defend her women’s 400m hurdles title at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships which take place on 7-12 June.
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Since winning gold in the 400m flat, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay two years ago at the Munich 2022 European Athletics Championships, Bol has gone from strength to strength.
Last year she won the women’s 400m hurdles at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships before famously anchoring the Dutch team to a glorious 4x400m gold.
She has continued in the same winning vein indoors, bettering her own 400m short track world record in winning gold in 49.17 at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, where she once again ran the last leg for the Netherlands to win 4x400m gold.
As one of the true superstars of the sport today, her presence in Rome will add huge excitement to this year’s European Athletics Championships. And Bol shares in the excitement.
A great stadium
“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “I always love Rome. I had one of my first Diamond Leagues there in COVID times. There was this huge stadium and just two people I think in the crowd because it wasn’t allowed.
“Another year I was there and Tamberi (Italy’s Olympic high jump gold medallist Gianmarco Tamberi) was jumping and the crowd went crazy. The Italians go crazy. There are so loud which is so nice. So, I am really looking forward to being able to compete there. I think it is a great stadium and track. It will be nice to be able to test myself also over the 400m hurdles.
“I love the warm up track with the big statues around it. There is such a nice vibe and the weather is good. I must say the Italians are also really nice. I have run a few times there and they cheer for everyone and want everyone to do their best.”
A nice pressure
With the Paris Olympic Games later in the summer, Bol will not be tackling the 400m double over flat and the hurdles as she did two years ago. But she also welcomes the expectation on her to defend at least one of her titles.
“I won’t do a double of 400m and 400m hurdles because that is too much right now,” she says.
“But I think that is also nice. It gives a nice pressure. It also shows you ‘Okay I have the medal, because I have already done it once - I know how I have done it back then. I have learned from it.' This is also something that helps, I think. A bit of pressure is never something bad.”
The full interview with Femke Bol can be heard on the European Athletics new’ Ignite podcast series due to be released on 18 April, where she talks in-depth about her life and career in the sport, Roma 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games. Subscribe here and get it first.
The women’s 400m hurdles final will take place on Tuesday 11 June at the Stadio Olimpico.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics
