Day 2 of the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships has announced its presence well and loud with records and rivalries making the waves. From Christian Coleman, and Ryan Crouser to today’s Femke Bol and Elle St. Pierre, the event has seen athletes attain heights as they made their way toward the biggest of stages. However, one of the lot, Femke Bol doesn’t seem to align with the aims of the rest in the field.

Femke Bol has been one of the stronger forces in the 400m flat or hurdles over the years. The 24-year-old has proven the claim time and again, inclusive of her recent feat in Glasgow. But despite the reigning triumph, the 2020 Olympian reveals to opt out of the Paris Olympics race.

None to convince the mighty Femke Bol

In a post-meet interview following her 49.17 record-breaking 400m race, Femke Bol was asked about her plans for the Paris Olympics in the domain she just led. “Is there any sort of 400m time that could convince you to run the flat 400m in Paris?” Bol was asked. Without much thought, the Olympian said a firm and unchallenging “No.” Even if she ran a 48-second time, Bol reveals her answer would still remain the same. While the champion offered no particular reasoning, her commitment to the sport hasn’t run down just yet.

“I always run with my heart. So we’ll see what my legs give me today,” Femke Bol iterated in the interview. The 400m hurdles, the 24-year-old’s primary domain await the champion’s performance at the Indoor Championships further. Until then Bol savors the fruits her hard work has lent in the 400m flat.

Leader of the 400m records

On the 2nd of March Femke Bol bested her teammate and rival Lieke Klaver by nine-hundredths of a second with 49.17 to break her own record. The previous one was set just early this month at the Dutch Indoor Championships. “It’s amazing to also run a world record again. I was hoping to be in the 49… my coaches thought I could do it but I really wanted the gold,” Bol states. However, interestingly, it wasn’t the second time the 24-year-old made the 49-second mark.

Also Read: “Not Happy”: ‘Furious’ Femke Bol Expresses Her Anger Over Last-Minute World Athletics Decision

Femke Bol now has the top three fastest indoor 400m times to her name. With that in place, Bol further believes 48 could be a possibility. When asked if she was hoping for a 48 on the clock at the race, Bol expressed that she was for now looking for a win. But also added, “Of course, I am getting closer to 48.” Having established that fans only await a spectacle.