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World champion Femke Bol switches from 400m hurdles to 800m

Femke Bol poses with her medal for the women's 400m hurdles final at the 2024 World Championships
Femke Bol poses with her medal for the women's 400m hurdles final at the 2024 World ChampionshipsAndrej ISAKOVIC / AFP

Dutchwoman Femke Bol announced on Friday that she is switching from the 400m hurdles to the 800m and will start competing in her new event next year.

While the 400 metres hurdles world champion has often played second fiddle to the United States' world record holder, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, on the Olympic stage, Bol, who won the gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, has collected five straight Diamond League titles in her signature event.

"I’m really excited to share the next chapter of my career," the four-time Olympic medallist wrote in an Instagram post.

"It’s a big change, it’s uncertain and challenging, but I’m ready to put in the work, surrounded by an amazing team and enjoy this new journey."

Britain's 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson welcomed her to the event, writing on Instagram: "Can't wait to share the start line."

Bol picked up a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the last two Olympic Games and helped power the Netherlands to a sensational gold medal in the 4x400m mixed relay in Paris. She was also part of the 2024 silver medal-winning women's relay team.

Her main 400m hurdles rival, McLaughlin-Levrone, has also recently ventured into new territory, winning the 400m flat event at worlds in Tokyo last month.