Femke, girl, you need to shift focus to 400 flat

You really think that Marita Koch thought that a women who hasn't even come within a second of the world record, and has only broken 49 seconds once in her entire life, would run faster than 47.60 this year?

You have no idea what you're talking about.

No kidding. If Sydney or Kersee thought 47.60 was still in play, she would be done with hurdles and running 400 flat

2023 was a jolt of reality

Breaking her personal best at 200 changes nothing

I objectively observe that there is no evidence that Bol is, was or will be superior to SML in any event. And there’s no evidence Bol would fare better in the 400, whether or not SML lines up against her. Because, Bol isn’t FAST enough to have a clear shot at gold. Yes, she is delightful, competes often and tries hard. But she isn’t FAST enough, and all the wishful thinking in the world can’t change that. In a flat 400 against Naser, SMU, Paulino, Adeleke, Wilson, Pryce and Anning, Bol wouldn’t win — not saying she’d place 8th, but, she’d do well to medal. So maybe she should take her silver to Syd’s gold and all you Bol-boys should shut up.

Bol's career if the situation continues as is:

Wins everything nationally

Wins everything in Europe

Wins every Diamond League

Wins everything indoor

World Champion

Olympic silver

I think she can live with that. She's just unlucky to be the same age as Sydney. There's also a non-zero chance she will get another shot at gold in 2028 depending on what Sydney does.

I don't disagree with you. I'd like to think that winning Gold in the Olympics when they're being held in the USAandin the city you live in would be motivation enough for SML to continue through 2028. That's about as high profile as you can get for Track & Field in the US. That's the exposure you kill for as an athlete in this sport. That's Dan O'Brien on Wheaties level exposure.

You're saying you were the cause and effect. She didn't run the 100H at Penn this year. Whether or not you may have attended (if you did) is also of little importance this year.

You are forgetting that Sydney doesn't like the spotlight. Winning one or more gold medals at the 2028 LA Olympics would turn her into a local celebrity and she would get recognized every time she went somewhere in LA, which is exactly what she doesn't want to happen.

Many people would like it, but Sydney is not one of those people.

I don't even know that Sydney McLaughlin is better at 400m than Athing Mu. In Tokyo, McLaughlin led off in 50.21 (obviously, a standing start) in the finals, Muhammad ran 48.94, a mom ran 49.38, and Mu anchored in 48.32. In 2022 in Eugene, Mu wasn't on the team and they ran a second slower, but McLaughlin anchored in 47.91. Both should be running the 400m.

worldathletics.org

4x400 Metres Relay Result | The XXXII Olympic Games (Athletics)

4x400 Metres Relay women's final result from the The XXXII Olympic Games (Athletics) in Olympic Stadium, Tokyo

Open link

As college freshmen, Sydney ran 50.07 and Athing ran 49.57. So it seems like there is a good chance that Athing is actually better at the 400 than Sydney.

However, since Bobby Kersee won't let Athing run the 400, we may never find out who is better in the 400 as a pro unless Athing gets a different coach.

This is why Bol will never have any regrets and doesn't worry about ping ponging from event to event. She is extremely dedicated, as described again in this recent article about Swiss 400 meter runner Lionel Spitz:

"Another Dutch one-lap specialist, Femke Bol, is a regular in Belek with the young Swiss in awe of the way the world champion hurdler conducts herself.

"She is really strict and 100 per cent mentally ready. She trains so hard. Even after training, she's already focused on competition. No chocolate at all, nothing. It's really impressive to see.

"And she can perform for the whole year. Normal people will peak sometimes, but she's peaking for 365 days a year. Also in training, she goes 100 per cent everyday. I don't know how this is possible, but it's Femke Bol."

olympics.com

Swiss 400m hopeful Lionel Spitz talks playing FIFA with hero Wayde van Niekerk, and how the pandemic put him on track

@olympics

While training alongside Neeraj Chopra in Türkiye, the 'Babyface Killer' speaks exclusively about his goals for Paris 2024 and how he takes inspiration from Femke Bol's work ethic.

Open link

Bol's only inner battles will be next year when Meuwly starts pushing her to tinker with 800 meters.

with 60 upvotes to 3 down.

there is nothing wrong with the readers.

there is everything wrong with basement dwelling pants around their ankles posters.

same thing goes with the media. they give the complete illusion that there is support for things like trans in womens sport. where sadly the massive silenced majory thinks there is a two sided battle.

"no one" supports the rediculous "causes" out there.

that is the takeaway.

identify the basement dweller and get them using your preferred method. pronto.

You need to get a life, loser!

I'm not so sure....she's supremely competitive, and if you are good enough to set WRs and win everything else, then not getting that Olympic gold is a big deal, and extremely frustrating.

I can imagine a scenario whereby if she wins silver behind McLaughlin in Paris, as most assume she will, then come LA 2028 a big decision will have been made on which event she is most likely to win gold there. As much as a coach wants to carve out the best career path for their athlete based on their ability, regardless of what others do, I'm sure they will consider who her competitors are at 400mh...and 800m. If McLaughlin (and Wilson?) are running the 400mh in 2027 and intend to run that event in LA, and Bol is still behind McLaughlin, I could see her consider a switch to 800m. I think by then the flat 400m would be long past her consideration. But if McLaughlin retires before then, or it's clear she's running the flat, I can see Bol sticking with the hurdles. Third time lucky (it worked for Felix when she was beaten two Olympics in a row by Campbell-Brown..).

A factor might be the length of their careers as an elite athlete. Bol came into much later than McLaughlin, so may be more likely to continue up until she's 30, and stay in form longer. McLaughlin has been competitive at the top level for much longer, does not enjoy it, and may retire before then.

I have no doubt Bol has the ability to win Olympic gold in Paris in the flat if she were to solely focus on it, but she wont. The hurdles it is for this year.

She should go do voiceover for a Disney Cartoon with that hilarious voice of hers.

Meanwhile if Bol switched to 400 flat she would be underdog to Miller-Uibo and Paulino, no better than toss up with Adeleke, face other legitimate challengers like Kaczmarek and Sada Williams, not to mention the inevitable new names every year, like perhaps one of the Arkansas girls.

Sounds like a brilliant plan. Heavy favorite for silver in one event, with option for gold upon one low toe, or throw yourself into the mix of uncertainty in an event that's always given you strategic trouble.