Femke Bol keeps showing she’s more than worthy of comparisons to Sydney McLaughlin. Most recently, she wrapped up her season with a bang at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels, winning with a stellar time of 52.45 seconds in the 400mH event. American Anna Cockrell finished second with 53.71 seconds, and Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon took third with 53.99 seconds. Bol really made a statement with that performance!

Aside from the hiccup at the Paris Olympic Games, Bol has had an outstanding season, consistently posting impressive times and winning most of her races. After her latest victory, she shared a surprising insight: “It was really fun tonight. It was a little cold to run, but with the atmosphere in the stadium, I forgot all about that. I really enjoyed my race, and to be able to win my 4th DL trophy is just amazing.”

Femke Bol also mentioned that she was a bit unwell last week and “wasn’t sure” if she’d compete in Brussels, as her body was signaling the need for rest after a long season. However, racing in Brussels felt like performing in front of a home crowd, and she didn’t want to miss out on that experience. With the season wrapped up, she’s now looking forward to a well-deserved two-year holiday in Sicily.

Alongside this, she also expressed her deep respect for Sydney McLaughlin, acknowledging the influence and admiration she holds for the legendary athlete. Even though she is her biggest competitor.

As Femke Bol puts it, “I’m really happy that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was here to run, even though it was in some side events. I would have preferred running against her on the 400mH, because she´s such an amazing athlete and I can learn so much from her. Maybe the races in Brussels convinced her now to run more Diamond Leagues next season. It would be great to race against her.” You might be wondering why Sydney wasn’t part of this race.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s season-ending spectacle, and what’s next

Femke Bol’s rival, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who is often celebrated as the best 400m hurdles athlete in the world, made a memorable appearance in Brussels to wrap up the season. Although she wasn’t competing in the Diamond League final—she didn’t meet the entry criteria since she hadn’t run in earlier meets—the buzz around her two-day promotional stints was palpable.

After her jaw-dropping performance at the Paris Olympics, where she snagged two gold medals, including one in the 4x400m relay, McLaughlin-Levrone had firmly cemented her status as a top athlete. Her strategy to peak at Paris and then take a step back was spot on. In Brussels, she decided to shake things up, running the 400m flat on Friday and the 200m on Saturday, giving fans a fresh look at her versatility and continued brilliance and eventually winning.

As McLaughlin-Levrone took her final bows for the season, everyone was keenly watching, wondering how the sport would continue to develop and how new formats like Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track might shape its future.