Dutch champion Femke Bol has made a surprising decision to scale back her indoor season prioritizing personal time while still competing at the European Championships.
Olympics women’s 4 × 400 metres relay gold medalist Femke Bol has made a surprising decision to scale back her indoor season.
The Dutch sprint sensation, who dominated the track in 2024, will only race in one indoor event—the European Championships in March—while skipping the rest of the season.
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Bol, 24, took to Instagram on Tuesday to explain her reasoning, revealing that she needed more time to process the past year and focus on aspects of life beyond athletics.
“I’m training hard and preparing myself for another successful year on the track, but I also felt that I needed a bit more time away from competing,” Bol shared with her fans.
“Therefore I have decided to not race individually this indoor season,” she added.
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The South African’s four-year stint in the USA has come to an abrupt end.
The reigning world champion in the 400-meter hurdles had a spectacular 2024, securing three Olympic medals in Paris, including historic gold in the mixed 4×400 meters relay, a silver in the women’s 4×400 meters relay and a bronze in her signature 400-meter hurdles event.
She followed this up by clinching the prestigious Diamond League Trophy in Brussels.
Despite her reduced competition schedule, Bol will still represent the Netherlands at the European Indoor Championships from March 6-9 in Apeldoorn where she will compete in the relay events.
“However, I cannot and do not want to miss a chance to compete at a home championship!!!” Bol stated enthusiastically, confirming her participation in the event.
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Interestingly, she made no mention of the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, scheduled for later in March, suggesting that she has no plans to take part in the prestigious global event.
Her decision to limit her indoor season comes at a time when athletes are ramping up their preparations for major competitions, making her absence even more unexpected.
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However, Bol emphasized that stepping back was necessary for her well-being.
“It gives me the opportunity to have some more time processing everything that has happened and prioritize more things outside of the sports that are important to me,” she explained.
Bol’s commitment to self-care highlights the increasing awareness among elite athletes about the mental and emotional demands of high-level competition.
Over the past few years, stars like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have openly addressed the importance of balancing mental health with professional success,and Bol’s latest move echoes a similar sentiment.
