Femke Bol set a world record in the 400 metres short track on 2 March 2024 with a time of 49.17 seconds. A specialist in sprinting and middle-distance running, the Amersfoort-born athlete has established herself as a dominant force in international athletics, securing numerous titles and records across various relay and individual disciplines throughout her career.
Early Development and Junior Career
Born in 2000, Bol began athletics around 2008 at a local club in the Netherlands. By 2014, she transferred to AV Altis, where she identified a talent for longer sprints. She focused on the 400 metres distance starting in 2015. Her international junior progression included participation in the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival and the 2017 European Under-20 Championships. In 2019, she claimed her first senior national title and secured gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the European U20 Championships in Borås, Sweden. Later that year, she reached the semi-finals at the Doha World Championships.
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In November 2019, Bol began training at the Dutch National Sports Centre Papendal near Arnhem. Her coaching staff included Laurent Meuwly and assistant coach Bram Peters. Despite training constraints during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, she set new personal bests and claimed victory in multiple Diamond League and Continental Tour events. Her performance in 2020 established her as a primary competitor in the 400 metres hurdles.
International Records and Achievements
Bol holds the European record in the 400 metres hurdles at 50.95 seconds, set on 14 July 2024, and the European record in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay of 3:07.43 minutes, set on 3 August 2024. She served as a World Champion in the 400 metres hurdles in 2023 and 2025, and won Olympic gold with the Dutch mixed 4 × 400 metres relay team in 2024. Her accolades include being named European Athlete of the Year in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and she was appointed a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2024.
Public Life and Advocacy
Bol studied communication sciences at Wageningen University. Outside of competition, she engages in philanthropic work, including serving as an ambassador for the non-profit organization Free a Girl since 2025. She authored the 2025 children's book Team TOFF gaat er voor!, with proceeds directed toward her charity work. In October 2025, the Femke Bol Hal, an indoor sports facility, opened in Amersfoort. In March 2026, Madame Tussauds Amsterdam unveiled a wax figure in her likeness.
Fast facts
- Born: 2000, Amersfoort, Netherlands
- Primary event: 400 metres hurdles (until 2025), 800 metres (since 2026)
- Education: Wageningen University & Research
- Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau: 2024
- Marriage: Ben Broeders, 21 February 2026
- World Athletics Ranking No. 1 (400m hurdles): 2021–2026
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Questions readers ask
What is Femke Bol's highest career honor?
She was appointed a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2024.
When did Femke Bol begin specializing in the 800 metres?
She shifted her specialization to the 800 metres in 2026.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics
