The difference is that Bol was trying to go with the greatest athlete of her generation to win gold. Cockrell was simply running her own race for bronze.
I do wish people would stop saying Bol choked, or Ingebrigtsen choked or Lyles choked or whoever. It sounds so stupid and childish. Bol did not choke. She could have run better but in the end she was beaten fair and square by a superior athlete. That’s all.
If Sydney had a bad race (which happens), who knows? But Femke went out to try to beat the best athlete in any event of the last 10 years instead of finishing half a second behind her to get second. And it cost her the silver. Bol is incredible but Sydney is another level.
I agree she tried to win not manage her race and finish second. The men's race will be similar with one of the big 3 blowing a gasket and possibly fading out of the medals if they don't have it tomorrow.
Lots of criticism for Bol. At the end of the day, she simply showed what happens when a great athlete tries to keep up with the greatest of her generation, who is on another level. I think the margin of defeat is explained largely by her ambition to win.
I've had my takes on SML...but today I ask WTF IS A KILOMETER
Anna Cockrell banished Bol to the shadow realm that last 75m
Bol just collapsed when Sydney accelerated away from her. The fight just went out of her. Cockrell knew she couldn't match Sydney so was prepared for the eventuality.
Bol bottled that. Probably felt SML on her shoulder almost immediately and panicked by going out too quickly.
She did that thing where the claim was that her coach told her to run the first 200M hard to keep up with Sydney. She did exactly that and had nothing left for the last 200 and thus collapsed when Sydney streaked away. Bol almost hit the last hurdle.
I mean no but I guess the question always remains is there some reason she does the 400H over 400? She just isn’t as good at it, and it’s felt that way for a while.
Ha! Not according to the Sydney haters on this site. Heck, when Bol went to the mountains and ran that altitude assisted 50.95, they were relishing because finally Bol was in Sydney's orbit. No amount of telling them that Bol would be destroyed in Paris when she returned to sea level. Well now we just had the destruction.
The Silver Medal was Bol's to loose, that was a terrible performance by her.
Because she ran Sydney's race. Bol murdered the back straight and had nothing left when Sydney took off on the final curve. Bol was just not prepared for Sydney's lethal kick
I hope I never hear about this being a "rivalry" again. Bol isn't in the same league, in any event. Beating up on slow Europeans every other week means nothing.
I did really think that Bol could break 51, but it still wouldn’t have mattered because that’s exactly what I thought Sydney was going to do.
Oh ya, I fully expected a new world record from SML. I just expected Bol to push her PB down as well
Bol probably would have run low 51 if she had not tried to keep up with Sydney down the back straight. Sydney had already ate into the stagger on the first curve and Bol felt her. Bol then tried to keep pace and had nothing in reserve when they hit the second bend. When Sydney accelerated away, Bol just collapsed.
The Silver Medal was Bol's to loose, that was a terrible performance by her.
Indeed, did she go out too hard? She seemed to be right with SML for the first 150m, then fell apart around 280-300m.
I think she psyched herself out.
Had she raced for silver and started more conservatively, she may earned it over Cockrell, but I am glad she was gusty about it and went for 1st. She’ll never have to question herself with “what if?”
Yes. This is what she practiced at altitude and that DL race in London a month ago. This was her new strategy to keep in step with Sydney. To keep up with Sydney, meant she would have to run faster than she has ever had to run when running with others not named Sydney and so she was gassed at the 250/300 mark.
Rooting for SML is like being a Phillys or Eagles fan. The teams themselves are fine but you're the most obnoxious fans.
Bol fans are great and understand why she is such a treasure to the sport. Sure she could probably only beat SML 1 out of 10 times and today was an off day but doesn't change the fact that she's an awesome athlete and teammate.
You are not aware of irony are you? Now who is being obnoxious.
Bol openly admitted that she went out too hard in the first 200m. It was easy to see that she was matching SML or clearing first the first 4-5 hurdles, which is just not smart.
If that's the case then she's been on them since she was 14 years old. What SML is doing right now is zero surprise to anyone has been following her career.
Yep. And Felix should have gotten some of those coz she sure plateaued. Felix should sue Kersee for giving her a bad batch.
Femke looked like she has something - maybe Covid? Also she raced lots of relays. Not super fresh legs anymore for sure. But in general she could also run that time.
If that's the case then she's been on them since she was 14 years old. What SML is doing right now is zero surprise to anyone has been following her career.
Uh-huh. Zero surprise under Bob Kersee? Look up Flo-Jo. Her records also were not a surprise under Bob Kersee.
I prefer to look up Felix and Kenny Harrison and his entire current stable; none of whom even qualified for the Olympics. They should sue his tail for giving them placebos and keeping the good stuff for Sydney only apparently.