2024 European Athletics Championships: Femke Bol posts world leading time and Karsten Warholm takes third-consecutive title
Day five (11 June) of the 2024 European Athletics Championships was a day of smashing records as Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol broke the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles championship records, respectively, to take gold and land on top of the podium at the historic Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Bol also posted the fastest time in the world thus far this year with her blistering time of 52.49 seconds, topping reigning Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's world-leading 52.70 that was posted in May.
It looked like a race between her and the clock and she flew off the blocks, as she held a steady lead and then pulled ahead in the final straight to finish over a second and a half ahead of Italy’s Louise Maraval, who took the silver medal.
“I worked hard for these championships and I arrived here in good shape, I believe I can be even better at the Olympics,” Bol said.
“It's never easy, you can never take anything for granted, which is why it's important to stay focused on myself and not think about what's happening around me,” she said, adding that it was harder to do in an atmosphere that was “amazing.”
For reigning Olympic and world champion Warholm, it was his third consecutive continental title and he showed no mercy to his opponents as he took off to immediately take control of the race. He held his lead until he crossed the finish line in a time of 46.98, breaking the continental record he set in 2022.
The hat trick comes after his third world championship win in the same event last year and ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, where he has once again, proved to be a force to be reckoned with going in.
“Whenever I walk on the track, I want to accomplish my goals. But today, Sibilio also had a very good race. I have seen that Italians have a great season thanks to these championships so I knew that also today, I had to fight very hard. I was very sure that he would be ready for anything and I could not make any mistake today,” Warholm said to media, following his win.
Femke Bol of Team Netherlands competes in the Women's 400m Hurdles Final on day five of the 26th European Athletics Championships.
The home crowd erupted for Italy’s Alessandro Sibilio as he crossed the finish line just over half of a second after the Norwegian, breaking the Italian national record with a time of 47.5.
Sweden’s Carl Bengtstrom took the bronze with a time of 47.94, also breaking Sweden’s national record for the men’s 400m hurdles.
For the women, there will be two Dutch athletes standing on the podium, as the Netherland’s Cathelijn Peeters crossed the finish line in third with a time of 54.37.
Gianmarco Tamberi also made headlines on day five of the Championships as the stadium that was littered with Italian flags and Tamberi posters erupted as he walked onto the track. The audible support only grew until he walked off the field with the gold medal and a mark of 2.37m, making this his fourth European Championships title, including his 2019 indoor win.
Following this win, the Italian credited much of his success to the crowd, saying "Today was a special day...There were difficulties, but thanks to the crowd I overcame them."
The hometown favourite became a household name at Tokyo 2020, when he and Qatari opponent Mutaz Barsham opted out of a final jump-off to share the top spot on the podium and both leave the Games as Olympic champions - something that had not previously happened in over a century.
The president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, was in the building to witness the greatness that went down in the iconic stadium on Tuesday night.
2024 EUROPEAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN'S AND WOMEN'S 400M HURDLES - FULL RESULTS
Men's 400m hurdles
1. Kasten Warholm (NOR) 46.98 - 🥇
2. Alessandro Sibilio (ITA) 47.50 -🥈
3. Carl Bengtstrom (SWE) 47.94 -🥉
4. Rasmus Magi (EST) 48.13
5. Berke Akcam (TUR) 48.17
6. Emil Agyekum (GER) 48.42
7. Matic Ian Gucek (SLO) 48.87
8. Nick Smidt (NED) 49.43
Women's 400m hurdles
1. Femke Bol (NED) 52.49 -🥇
2. Louise Maraval (FRA) 54.23 -🥈
3. Cathelijn Peeters (NED) 54.37-🥉
4. Nikoleta Jíchová (CZE) 54.91
5. Ayomide Folorunso (ITA) 55.20
6. Line Kloster (NOR) 55.29
7. Lina Nielsen (GBR) 55.65
8. Fatoumata Binta Diallo (POR) 55.65