The Paris Olympics are shaping up to be a real show-stopper, where athletes are expected to break records. However, you might wonder, how?

Just look at the lead-up: Noah Lyles shattered Michael Johnson’s 200-meter record at the trials. Quincy Wilson broke the U-18 record twice this year, proving he’s not just a flash in the pan. Letsile Tebogo showed Africa’s sprinting prowess, putting the naysayers in their place. But it doesn’t stop there.

With just 11 days until the Olympics, another rivalry is brewing: the two greatest women’s hurdlers of their era, Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, have been plotting, planning, and training, getting ready to go head-to-head and keeping their cards close to their chests!

Most recently, at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Femke Bol blazed a trail with an outstanding performance in the women’s 400m hurdles. She clocked a jaw-dropping 50.95 seconds to break her personal best and clinch a new European record. Her achievement did not just catapult her into the history books; she joined the ranks of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as only the second woman to crack the 51-second barrier in this event. Both athletes are set to face each other as tough rivals at the Paris Olympics. However, Sydney is on a mission to break more records this year, just as she did two weeks ago.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knocked the athletics world for six once more time. She smashed the 400m hurdles world record with a fast time of 50.65 seconds at the US Olympic trials on June 30th. In just her fourth race of the season over the barriers, the 24-year-old Olympic champion sailed over all 10 hurdles with ease, then kicked into high gear for a breathtaking sprint to the finish line. Her astonishment was evident as she beheld the scoreboard, her time beating her previous record set at the same venue during the 2022 World Championships by 0.03 seconds.  She is pushing the envelope to redefine what’s possible in her sport. But the rivalry between Femke Bol and her started in Tokyo 2020.

Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone- who will dominate Paris and hearts?

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Femke Bol turned heads with her lightning-fast performances across multiple 400m events, from hurdles to flat races. She clinched a bronze in the 400m hurdles, trailing only behind Sydney McLaughlin (51.46 s)and Dalilah Muhammad (51.58s), who set world records. But Bol’s time of 52.03 seconds not only secured her a historic European record but also placed her on the podium as the third-fastest woman ever in this event. But Bol didn’t stop there.

Bol continued to break barriers indoors, smashing the world indoor record for the women’s 400m twice at the Dutch national championships, lowering it to an impressive 49.24 seconds by early 2023. The Dutch hurdler stormed to victory in the 400m race at the Brussels Diamond League with a blistering time of 52.11 seconds. However, fans were left lamenting Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence at that event as she was sidelined due to a knee injury. This echoed a previous setback that had also kept her out of the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

With her sights set on further records, Bol’s star continues to rise. Her recent achievements place her among the best. Their showdown promises to captivate the world and keep everyone on the edge of their seats. So, keep your eyes peeled, because the Paris Olympics is approaching fast and will surely be one for the books.