Dutch hurdling phenomenon Femke Bol is staking her claim as the sport’s new queen, with performances so commanding in the women’s 400m hurdles.
On June 15th at the Stockholm Diamond League, Bol delivered one of the season’s standout moments. Blazing through the women’s 400m hurdles in a meet-record 52.11 seconds. It was a performance packed with power, precision, and pacing mastery. Having already claimed wins in Rabat and at the FBK Games earlier in the season, this latest victory underlined her dominance and growing confidence.
What made this race even more remarkable was Bol’s own admission that she isn’t yet at her peak.
Gatlin’s Stamp of Approval
Femke Bol’s resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed. On his Ready Set Go YouTube show, former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin couldn’t hide his excitement.
“All I can say about them Cabal is she’s back! Where have you been?” he exclaimed.
“Coming out running 52.11? Yeah, you handle the business. Do your thing.”
Gatlin’s reaction reflects the energy rippling through the track world. Bol skipped the 2025 indoor season to focus on relays, a decision now clearly paying dividends.
Rivalry Heating Up
Of course, the women’s 400m hurdles remains one of the sport’s marquee showdowns including the presence of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
The reigning Olympic champion and world record holder set a world-leading 52.07 in Miami earlier this year. Dalilah Muhammad, another veteran of the event, also clocked a strong 52.91 in Stockholm to finish behind Bol.
But Bol’s consistency, three wins from three races in 2025, including a dominant showing in Rabat where she finished 1.44 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight, makes her a serious threat heading into the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Her ability to keep improving, combined with smart technical tweaks like a new block setup, means Bol is poised to challenge for that crown.
Leading a Golden Generation
As if her hurdles heroics weren’t enough, Bol is also spearheading what European Athletics has dubbed the Netherlands’ “golden generation.” She’ll swap the hurdles for the flat 400m at the European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid from June 28-29, leading a star-studded Dutch squad.
Bol’s unbeaten run in 2025 and her leadership role on a team stacked with talent, including Lieke Klaver in the 200m and Nadine Visser in the 100m hurdles, make the Netherlands a major force. Fresh off a stellar 2025 European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, where they secured seven gold medals, this team targets more history.
Bol’s unforgettable anchor leg in the mixed 4x400m relay in Apeldoorn, clocking a Dutch record 3:15.63, showed just how clutch she can be. Now the question is whether that relay brilliance will translate to flat 400m individual gold in Madrid.
All eyes now turn to how Bol balances the remainder of her 2025 campaign. With the World Championships looming, her form, focus, and fearless racing style suggest she’s aiming for history.
