Femke Bol wins gold in the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, after tripping last Saturday’s 4x400m mixed relay final.
She passed the finish line in 51.70 seconds – her second-fastest time ever and she could not believe it.
Speaking about her win, she said;
“Everyone thought, of course on paper she’s by far the winner, she’s gonna win it.”
“But I think the mixed [relay] showed that it’s not always like this because I think a lot of people thought that when I got the stick [baton] we would have gold easily and we didn’t get it. So I knew I needed to be strong, I needed to execute my race.”
Second place and the silver medal went to the USA’s Shamier Little who finished in a season’s best of 52.80 while Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton was just behind to win bronze in 52.81.
“I feel as if the hard work has paid off, I’m thankful and happy,” Little told the media “I’ve been working on controlling my nerves a lot. So to come here in this noise and not let it faze me, and not let the heat get to me – that was an achievement.”
Bronze medallist Clayton also said;
“It was the best run of my life. When I won the bronze medal at Doha (2019 World Championships) that was an easier run, I can tell you. Now all the ladies were on fire. I was able to better my PB (personal best) two times in Budapest so I cannot be happier.”