Olympic 400m bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka showcased her resilience and champion’s mindset at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, on Monday,
The Polish Sprinter finished fifth in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.42 seconds. Despite falling short of her expectations in a highly competitive field, she embraced the race as a critical step in her ongoing preparations.
Her introspective words shared on her Instagram story, “It’s not always as we would like it to be. But keep my head up and let’s keep going. Today’s start is another valuable experience.”
The race was dominated by the unstoppable Anavia Battle of the United States. Battle continued her scorching 2025 season with a commanding victory in a season-best 22.75 seconds. Battle’s performance was a masterclass in sprinting, as she surged through the bend and pulled away in the final stretch, maintaining her unbeaten 200m record this year.
Sweden’s Julia Henriksson secured second place with a time of 23.10, followed by Dutch sprinter Minke Bisschops in third at 23.14. Local favorite Lieke Klaver rounded out the top four, clocking 23.40, just ahead of Bukowiecka.
For Natalia Bukowiecka, a specialist in the 400m, the decision to compete in the shorter 200m was a deliberate move to hone her speed and sharpness. While the result may not have been the podium finish she hoped for, her ability to frame the race as a valuable experience underscores her maturity as an athlete.
Meanwhile, Anavia Battle’s relentless form in Hengelo solidifies her position as a leading contender in women’s sprinting. Her ability to consistently deliver top-tier performances signals a bright future as the US trials looms.
Redemption at Oslo
Bukowiecka will be looking for a redemption. She will headline a high-quality women’s 400m at the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 12. She goes up against a field which includes six of the world’s top ten.
The Eurperean Champion will also be hoping to claim her first win of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League. She opened her campaign with a strong second-place finish and season’s best of 50.92 in Doha last month.
She will be joined by some of the most exciting rising stars over one lap. This include the USA’s Isabella Whittaker, Norway’s own Henriette Jaeger and the Czech Republic’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel.
