Femke Bol’s incredible anchor leg helped the Netherlands win the mixed 4x400m relay in a dramatic fashion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, defeating a strong United States team that had just broken a world record the previous evening. The race was a rain-soaked matchup.
The race began with the US establishing a strong lead. Vernon Norwood’s opening leg and Shamier Little’s solid second leg ensured the US was ahead. Bryce Deadmon’s third leg kept them in contention, and Kaylyn Brown, the US anchor, extended their lead to several meters with just 200 meters remaining.
However, the Dutch team had other plans. Eugene Omalla started strong for the Netherlands, running a 45.3-second lead-off leg, followed by Lieke Klaver’s impressive 49.3 seconds. Isaya Klein Ikkink then clocked 44.90 seconds, setting up Bol for a final lap that would become legendary.
Bol’s incredible sprint, clocked at 47.93 seconds, saw her closing the gap rapidly, overtaking Brown in the final strides of the race. Her effort secured a European record time of 3:07.43 for the Netherlands, just 0.02 seconds shy of the world record and 0.31 seconds ahead of the US, who settled for silver.
Great Britain, benefiting from Amber Anning’s strong 48.81-second anchor leg, finished third with a national record time of 3:08.01.
For Bol, this victory was particularly sweet, serving as redemption for the 2023 World Championships where a fall in the final meters cost her team a medal.
“I channelled my frustration from Budapest,” Bol shared, reflecting on her triumph. “My teammates’ support drove me forward.”
Despite her astonishing split, Bol emphasized the team’s primary goal was simply to win a medal.
“I just went for it,” Bol said. “This time, we aimed for a medal and ended up with gold. It’s surreal for a small country like ours.”
The US team, despite their disappointment, remained proud of their performance. One night earlier, they had shattered the world record with a time of 3:07.41. Shamier Little, who had dyed her hair purple to match the Stade de France track, expressed her pride in their achievements.
“Setting a world record and competing for an Olympic medal is a rare privilege,” said Deadmon. “Whether it’s gold, silver, or bronze, being part of this experience is incredible.”
The race will be remembered not just for its thrilling conclusion, but for the extraordinary effort and determination displayed by the athletes, particularly Bol, whose final lap secured a historic victory for the Netherlands.
