Femke Bol, the Olympic champion and four-time Diamond League winner, is making a bold statement. Femke will open her 2025 outdoor season—not in the flat 400m, but in the demanding 400m hurdles at the Wanda Diamond League in Rabat. This choice signals her unwavering commitment to pushing her limits and refining her craft in one of athletics’ most technical and gruelling events.
For Femke Bol, Rabat is more than just another race. It marks a fresh start following a highly successful 2024. During which she claimed Olympic gold in the mixed relay, silver in the 400m hurdles, and bronze in the women’s 4x400m relay.
This year, Femke Bol is focusing on executing her best performance rather than chasing specific times.
“The first one, I never really try to think too much about times with hurdles, especially,” she said in a recent press conference. “It’s mostly about executing a clean race. I’m just excited to go out there, compete against some great athletes, and try my best”.
Meanwhile, Bol’s approach this season is defined by technical innovation and mental resilience. She and her coaching team have been working on a new stride pattern, which she plans to test in Rabat.
“I will still do my 14 strides, but I will mirror a bit my first 100 meters. I will go with the different legs, I will start with my wrong leg over the first hurdle. So this will be exciting, and it’s a nice challenge,” Bol explained.
Femke Bol Journey to Track Glory and Record-Breaking Success
Femke Bol, born on February 23, 2000, in Amersfoort, Netherlands, quickly established herself as a star in track and field. She began athletics at age 14 and soon specialised in hurdling and sprinting, particularly the 400 meters hurdles and flat events.
 Bol won her first international gold at the 2019 European Junior Championships. She broke multiple records and claimed bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2023, she became the world champion in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay. Bol has dominated the Diamond League and European Championships, earning top rankings and major honours, including European Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023
Despite her impressive record—25 Diamond League wins and four series titles—Bol admits each race still brings nerves.
“It’s always nerve-wracking, I think. And it’s always something special,” she said. “In this Diamond League Rabat, I’ve never been before. So, that makes it extra-special that I can do one I’ve never done before. And I don’t want to get used to it, I don’t get used to it, so I’m happy about that”
 There is no doubt that when Femke Bol steps onto the track in Rabat, she is not just defending her status as the world’s best in the 400m hurdles—she is setting the stage for another season of growth, challenge, and inspiration.
