With the Swiss top coach Laurent Meuwly, who has built up a selection of specialists in the 400 meters at the Papendal sports center for both men and women, she is passionately working on storming the athletics top.
Bol writes out her ideal race in full in a booklet before each race, then consults with Meuwly about the tactics to be used. “A perfect race is impossible, you just have to deal with others on the track,” she says of her battle plan at a race.
Taste
Something strange happened in the semi-final on Friday. In her attempt to win the series, she tried to pass the experienced Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson. Bol collapsed on the line. She was startled, but recovered quickly. The taste didn’t help her, but it did make her think.
Bol had gone deep, as McPherson took the lead early and the Dutch record holder had to make extra yards to get close to her. The acidification is then extra hard. “‘I learned a lot from that semi-final. It was a hard lesson. McPherson played me out tactically.”
class apart
Bol did not let that happen again in the final. Miller-Uibo was just in a league of its own on Saturday night, leading the entire race. Bol had to duel again with the experienced McPherson, but did it well this time.
View the reactions of Femke Bol and Lieke Klaver after the final of the 400 meters below.
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