Tomorrow, she might be Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s biggest threat. But on the night of June 24th at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Femke Bol was the one who suffered a rare defeat. The Dutch sensation, long considered a dominant force in both the 400m hurdles and the flat 400m, stepped onto the track as the favorite, unbeaten this season and brimming with form. But under the lights of Mestský Stadion, the script flipped. Salwa Eid Naser, the Bahraini sprinter with a history of brilliance, returned with a bang, clocking a 49.15 to take the win.
Bol, often known for her powerful late-race surges, could only manage third in 49.98 behind American Lynna Irby-Jackson (49.82). It wasn’t just the loss that stunned track fans; it was the way it unfolded.
Coach Rob from the YouTube channel Coach Rob Track and Field broke it down, offering a perspective that many overlooked. “Femke Bol doesn’t run the 400 all that often,” he noted. “So when she does, I choose to pay attention… I didn’t fully expect they were going to catch her, but if anyone could, it would be Femke. But then, when Bol starts to make a move, she eventually fades to third place.” His commentary captured the shift perfectly: Bol, usually the closer, was out-closed. “It’s okay that she got third place—I mean, the 400 is not really her best event. But she’s really good at it and has shown us that already on the world stage,” he added.
Well, in 2025, Femke Bol’s focus is becoming sharper. While her recent 400m flat races haven’t been standout, clearly not matching her own high standards, her performances in the 400m hurdles remain elite. That’s not just good news, it’s a smart sign. Bol is a specialist in the hurdles, the reigning world champion, and this is the event where she’s chasing Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The flat 400m is often a tool in her training arsenal, not the target. Her rhythm, endurance, and technique in the 400m hurdles are on track when it matters most, and that’s exactly where she wants to peak. And even she is confirmed to compete in the 400 m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. So, 400m flat is just to be better.
Even though in the Ostrava race, Salwa Eid Naser looked like her 2019 self, the version that ran 48.14 and shook the world. Her 49.15 in Ostrava smashed the meet record and served as a thunderous reminder that she’s not done. Lynna Irby-Jackson, too, had her season-best run, leaving Bol with little room to recover when the surge began. While Bol’s 49.98 is by no means poor, it’s elite by global standards; it was the how of it that turned heads. The invincibility aura? Gone. For now. But it’s critical to keep perspective.
This was Bol’s first open 400m of the season and his first loss also. In her main event, the 400m hurdles, she’s been untouchable. From a 52.46 in Rabat Diamond league, to a 52.51 in Hengelo, to a meet record 52.11 in Stockholm, Bol has been in devastating form. She even powered the Netherlands to a double relay gold at the European Indoors. With the World Championship looming, the timing of this jolt adds intrigue. Is it a warning sign or a wake-up call? And now that Salwa Eid Naser has taken down Bol over 400m, the real question arises: can she do the same to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone? The answer isn’t clear yet, but the chase just got a lot more interesting.
All eyes are on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, but Salwa and Femke are closing in
What happens when the smoothest runner in the world meets the fiercest starter in the game? That’s the showdown brewing in women’s 400m racing right now. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has taken 2025 by storm—her times dropping from Kingston to Miami to a jaw-dropping 48.75 in New York. That’s just one hundredth off her personal best. Her stride is effortless, her pacing surgical, and her ability to shift gears with 100m to go? Untouchable—until now. Enter Salwa Eid Naser. The 2024 Olympic silver medalist is back with fire, clocking a world-leading 48.67 this season and reminding everyone that her 48.14 PB still ranks third in history. Where Sydney builds calmly, Salwa explodes. She hits the gas from the gun, attacks the first 200m like it’s a sprint final, and dares the rest to survive the chase.
But the plot thickens. While everyone’s watching this Sydney vs. Salwa flat 400m clash, one name continues to hover in the margins—quiet, composed, and deadly consistent: Femke Bol. She’s not chasing big 400m flat times this year, and that’s intentional. Her heart is in the 400m hurdles, and she’s been locked in on that goal since day one. On June 15, she ran 52.11 in Stockholm—matching her season’s best and just behind Sydney’s 52.07 world lead from early May. While Sydney is attempting the rare double (flat and hurdles), Bol is sharpening her barrier rhythm week by week. She’s a specialist in an Olympic year, and it shows.
“She’s the best to ever do it,” Bol admitted when asked about McLaughlin-Levrone, a respectful nod to her biggest rival—but also a signal that Bol isn’t backing down. Sydney’s range is impressive—dominating both events when she chooses to—but it also stretches her energy and focus. Meanwhile, Bol is refining one event, quietly gaining confidence with each stride. If all three, Sydney, Salwa, and Femke, line up at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, it might just be the most electric race of the year. Different events, different strengths, but the same goal: control the one-lap world. Sydney’s hunting history. Salwa wants the crown. And Bol? She’s that quiet assassin—calm before the storm.
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