He actually has valid points. The energy demands of an 800 where you might have to run 815 meters (in lane 2) while getting elbowed, tripped, and pushed while boxed in are significantly different than Femke having a clean run at it in lane 1 with no traffic.
Then add in pace surges then slowing down, and making strategic decisions in a split second.
The mental component of it might be harder for Femke than the physical.
The mental aspect of a particular race can be very difficult for some athletes. For example, Sydney took several years to get used to running the flat 400 at a high level because she is more comfortable having hurdles in her lane instead of having no hurdles.
And running an 800 with a bunch of other women who are jostling for position is more difficult than running a 400 in lanes.
Having said that, I think that by the time the 2028 Olympics rolls around, Bol will have figured all that out.
Another challenge for Femke will be injuries. Only time will tell if 800m training leads to injuries compared to 400h training. She's never done longish runs prior to this training block according to her, and the mention of the foot injury is concerning.
Can we all forever hold Kyle Merber’s feet to the fire? I would like Kyle to forever be Kyle (the guy that stole millions) Merber. And then to proceed with his take
That's n ot a very good national record. Cuba, Jamaica, Belgium, Australia, Switzerland, France, Canada, Belarus, and USA are faster off the top of my head
That's n ot a very good national record. Cuba, Jamaica, Belgium, Australia, Switzerland, France, Canada, Belarus, and USA are faster off the top of my head
Off the top of my head are you looking at INDOOR RECORDS? I don’t believe a woman from Canada has run faster?
Yes, Femke stated she wanted to run 1:57 and even the announcer stated 1:59 was a given [...]
Before this takes of, where is that source of Femke stating that ?
Yes, I read that the lights were set for a 157.8 and I believe her coach confirmed that, but that doesn't mean she was actually going for that time. As far as I know Femke herself never stated anything like that time. In fact, in Dutch media she only ever stated the Dutch NR was the goal (was 2:00:01).
Also in an interview with Dutch media, her coach stated that she had an irritated foot for the 2 weeks leading up to this race, which hampered her training a bit (mostly bike and crosstrainer, less time on the actual track). So maybe the goal was a 1:58 low or mid, with the lights a bit ahead, but her less than optimal preparation made it a 1:59.07 ?
Why would the coach set the lights at that pace if it wasn't the goal? They are PACE lights.
They were going for 1:57 and they failed. It's not an insult to Bol to say that.
Why would the coach set the lights at that pace if it wasn't the goal? They are PACE lights.
They were going for 1:57 and they failed. It's not an insult to Bol to say that.
Pacing lights have quite a bit of length for a reason. The front might have been 1:57.8 (not 1:57), but she finished just after the tail end of the lights in 1:59.07, so maybe their goal was just within the range of the lights.
Also, I asked for a source of Bol stating she aimed for a 1:57 because @Fnwsbosin claimed this without a source and everybody seems to just copy it. As far as I know, Bol never stated she went for a 1:57.