Tokyo, Japan, 2025-09-20

Dutch sensation Femke Bol has successfully defended her women’s 400m hurdles world title, dominating the field at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with a world-leading time of 51.54 seconds. The victory on Friday marks her second consecutive gold medal in the event and a testament to her continued excellence in a season where she has remained undefeated. The win solidifies her status as the premier hurdler in the world in the absence of her main rival, American world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The race was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with Bol building an insurmountable lead and cruising to the finish line to claim her sixth career medal at the World Championships.

The Race and Its Outcome

The 25-year-old Dutch star entered the final as the clear favorite and delivered on all expectations. She took an early lead and never looked back, putting a considerable gap on the rest of the field by the final turn.

 * World-Leading Time: Bol’s time of 51.54 seconds is the fastest in the world this year, a performance that highlights her superb form and her team’s successful strategic adjustments in training. “Today I tried to keep my speed. I was pushing and cruising. The last 100m was the best I’ve had all season, that is what was special today,” she said after the race.

 * Podium Finishers: American Jasmine Jones took the silver medal with a time of 52.08 seconds, a personal best. A surprise bronze medal went to Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalová, who ran a national record of 53.00 seconds to secure her first-ever World Championships medal.

 * Rivalry on Hold: Bol’s dominant performance came with her main rival, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, not competing in the event this year. McLaughlin-Levrone opted to focus on the 400m flat race, where she also claimed a gold medal with a record-breaking performance. This has created a new narrative in the sport, with both athletes excelling in their respective events.

Bol’s victory ties her with fellow Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan as the most decorated Dutch athletes in the history of the World Athletics Championships. The win is a powerful symbol of her dedication and resilience, as she continues to add to her impressive medal collection. Her performance in Tokyo has not only secured her place on the top of the podium but also has shown the world that she is a force to be reckoned with.