Dutch 400m hurdles star Femke Bol says she’s pleased with how her technical changes are taking shape after another commanding performance last weekend.
Speaking after a dominant win in Stockholm Diamond League, in which she clocked 52.11 seconds , a season’s best and a new meet record. Femke Bol credited her newly adjusted stride pattern for the consistency she’s showing in the season.
“It looks like the new stride pattern is bedding in well,” said Bol, who has been fine-tuning her rhythm between the hurdles. “I’m happy with how the season is starting.”
The Olympic bronze medallist and reigning world indoor 400m champion has long embraced technical evolution in her event and 2025 is no exception. Bol has made subtle but crucial adjustments to her stride pattern, which help her build speed and maintain control between hurdles. Early signs suggest the changes are paying off.
“Today I wanted to work a bit on the second bend, and for my feelings, it was better than the last two races,” she said. “So I’m really happy.”
That section typically between hurdles five and seven is often make-or-break for elite hurdlers. Bol’s ability to target such specific areas underlines her precision.
Dominant Bol
Bol has showed prowess. At the FBK Games a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting ,she thrilled the home crowd with a commanding victory in the 400m hurdles. She stormed to a time of 52.51 seconds, smashing her own meeting record.
Meanwhile, the time in Stockholm ranks her second in the world this year, just behind world record-holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who leads with 52.07.
Bol’s Stockholm run also improved on her own previous meet best of 52.27 from 2022, continuing a pattern of self-improvement that has defined her career. In that race, she beat Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who placed second in 52.91, and Panama’s Gianna Woodruff, third in 53.99.
Her season began on a high at the European Indoor Championships, where she struck gold in both the mixed 4x400m and women’s 4x400m relays, both in record time. She then opened her 400m hurdles campaign with victory at the Rabat Diamond League.