Femke Bol Defends 400 Metres Hurdles Title at 2025 World Championships
Femke Bol secured her second consecutive World Championship in the 400 metres hurdles, reinforcing her status as the dominant force in the event.
Femke Bol won the 2025 World Athletics Championships 400 metres hurdles title, securing her second consecutive world championship in the event and extending her dominance in the discipline.
Femke Bol won the 400 metres hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. She had previously won the same event in 2023 and captured Olympic gold in 2024, adding to a record in the 400 metres hurdles that includes European and short‑track world records. Her dominance also extends to the 400 metres, where she is the 2024 World Indoor Champion, and she helped the Dutch mixed 4x400m relay team win European Indoor gold in March 2024. In 2025 she received a third Women’s European Athlete of the Year award, underscoring her sustained impact on the sport. The shift to the 800 metres from 2026 onward raises questions about how her speed over shorter distances will translate to a longer race, a transition that will be tested in upcoming competitions. Her recent performances suggest she remains among the world’s best across multiple track events.
Olympic Gold and World Dominance in 2024
Femke Bol captured Olympic gold in the 400 metres hurdles at Paris 2024, adding to her 2023 World Championship victory in the same event. The Dutch athlete also secured the World Indoor title in the flat 400 metres later that year, completing a domestic double that highlighted her versatility across indoor and outdoor seasons. Her performances in 2024 cemented her status as a dominant force in women’s sprinting and hurdling, marked by consistency and record-breaking displays. Bol’s continued success built on a strong foundation established through her European record in the 400 metres hurdles and multiple international medals.
Femke Broeders-Bol won an Olympic bronze medal
Femke Broeders-Bol won the World Championship in 400 metres hurdles
Femke Broeders-Bol won the World Indoor Championship in 400 metres
Femke Broeders-Bol won an Olympic gold medal
Femke Broeders-Bol won the Lausanne Diamond League 400 metres hurdles with a meet record
Femke Broeders-Bol won the World Championship in 400 metres hurdles
The women's 400 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships took place from 15 to 19 September 2025 in Tokyo, Japan
Femke Broeders-Bol was awarded a third Women's European Athlete of the Year award
Femke Broeders-Bol began specializing in the 800 metres
European Record and Continued Success in 2025
At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Femke Bol won the 400 metres hurdles final, securing her second consecutive world title in the event. The competition took place over three rounds between 15 and 19 September 2025 at the National Stadium. Earlier in her career, Bol had set the European record in the 400 metres hurdles, and she remained undefeated in major finals since 2023. Her victory followed a dominant performance in the 400 metres, where she had been the 2024 World Indoor Champion and short‑track world record holder. Bol’s triumph added to her historic third Women’s European Athlete of the Year award, underscoring her continued dominance in Dutch and European athletics.
European Athlete of the Year and Team Triumph
Femke Bol was named Women’s European Athlete of the Year for the third time in 2025, marking sustained excellence across multiple seasons. She anchored the Dutch 4x400m mixed relay team to gold at the European Indoor Athletics Championships, securing victory on the competition’s opening night. The bronze medal from the 2021 Olympics and gold at the 2024 Games underscore her consistency in major competitions. Her 2025 World Championship title in the 400 metres hurdles, defended across three rounds at the National Stadium in Tokyo, reinforced her dominance in the event. The Netherlands’ strong team performances were further highlighted by Bol’s role in relay success, following the gold medal secured on the European Indoor Athletics opening night.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Femke Bol and what are her main achievements?
Femke Bol is a Dutch track and field athlete who won Olympic bronze in 2021 and Olympic gold in 2024. She is a two-time World Champion in the 400 metres hurdles (2023, 2025), 2024 World Indoor Champion in the 400 metres, European record holder in the hurdles, and three-time Women's European Athlete of the Year.
When did Femke Bol switch to the 800 metres?
Femke Bol began specializing in the 800 metres in 2026 after previously competing in the 400 metres hurdles and 400 metres.
Did Femke Bol win a medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships?
Yes, Femke Bol won the 400 metres hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, which took place from 15 to 19 September 2025.
What relay event did Femke Bol win with the Dutch team?
Femke Bol helped the Netherlands win gold in the 4x400m mixed relay at the opening night of the European Indoor Athletics.
Who is Keely Hodgkinson and how did she perform against Femke Bol?
Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson won her 800 metres semi-final, finishing ahead of Femke Bol of the Netherlands.
