Femke Bol’s unbelievable finish earns the Netherlands gold in women’s 4x400 metre relay
Netherlands win with a time of 3:20.72 minutes. ‘Look at Bol!’
The Netherland women’s 4x400m relay team took home gold on Sunday, with Femke Bol securing the win, only 5 metres from the finish line. The underdog of the race became victorious after overtaking Great Britain and Jamaica in a tight finish.
The crowd fell silent in Budapest’s National Athletics Centre, before erupting in their seats with cheers and screams at the sound of the whistle. With Eveline Saalberg (Netherlands) running in the outside lane, she became the target for many runners, including Britain’s own- Laviai Nielsen, who started off strong.
For the Netherland’s team this final night of success casts a shadow over their mixed 4x400m relay after Femke Bol took a catastrophic fall at the last two metres, securing the Netherlands fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium position on the very first night of the competition. The huge loss against the US team, forfeited the Netherlands a gold medal and a world record.
“I feel great like I did today and today I didn’t show it” said Bol, after the mixed relay race. “I think I cramped up, then I felt someone next to me and then I was on the ground”. “I would like my revenge!”
Femke Bol (23) who started training in athletics from a young age, in a sports interview, said, “It was always a way to clear your mind and just have fun and not think too much about other things. That’s still what I like so much about it.” Since 2019, Bol has trained at the Dutch National Sports Centre Papendal, where she was coached by Switzerland’s Laurent Meuwly.
The women’s 4x400m relay race saw Great Britain and Jamaica start off strong with Nielsen (GB) in lane seven and Candice McLeod (JM) in lane 8. The first lap saw a smooth exchange of batons from Jamaica, Great Britain and the Netherlands, with Janieve Russell (JM) breaking for the curve in the second lap, holding on to the growing advantage.
The second exchange saw three dominating teams emerge as Russel particularly faded at the exchange with Nickisha Pryce (JM). Jamaica, Great Britain and the Netherlands were the big three who left the other teams behind. Pryce was out in front, followed closely by Ama Pipi (GB), who had an incredible run in the individual 400m race, followed by Cathelijn Peeters (NL), who had released the pressure slightly coming up to the last exchange.
The last leg saw Femke Bol (NL), Nicole Yeargin (GB) and Stacey-Ann Williams (JM) battle to take gold. Williams took the lead with Yeargin gaining on her, with Bol having an awful amount of ground to cover. With the finish line in sight, William’s seemed to have won gold, only for Bol to come up on the outside in the last five metres and snatch it from her.
The Dutch crowd leapt from their seats, waving their flags and posters as the women’s team embraced Bol at the finish line. With Bol laying on the floor in disbelief, it was a very good day to be Dutch. With ecstatic expressions from the team and their fans, it was a remarkable finish from Bol, who takes home her second gold medal.
“In the Netherland’s we get these medals together, because we train together […] and support each other” said Bol, post-race. The gold medallist looked thrilled after scoring the win for her team, which she had unfortunately failed to do in the mixed 4x400 metres only nine days before.
[Was it extra special to you, after the fall?] “Yes, for sure, I mean it was tough, and it was tough to get the confidence in my last metres on the 400. [I said] “ok Femke this time you can keep running, [and] you can keep your form well”.
With Bol being denied a gold medal on the first night of the competition, she was not letting that stop her from winning gold in her 400m hurdles. Her first gold medal of the competition was a sensational win, followed by the biggest comeback of the whole competition, winning the women’s 4x400m relay. Bol takes home two gold medals from Budapest, Hungary.
“I thought we were running for silver […] you always have to keep running, till the finish”, said Bol who only knew she was going to win in the last few metres of the race.
From fourth to first, Bol came full circle from the first night to the last and got her revenge.