Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol (from L to R) of team the Netherlands celebrate after winning the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Femke Bol ran a sizzling final leg as the Netherlands clinched gold in the 4x400m mixed relay at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Bol clocked 47.93 seconds to overtake American Kaylyn Brown in the last 20m at the Stade de France.
The Netherlands finished in three minutes 7.43 seconds, 0.31 seconds ahead of the United States. Britain took bronze in 3:08.01.
"I hoped to run that fast some time but in the relay you never look too much at split times, it's more about putting it together as a team and technically you have to race it well," a jubilant Bol said after the race.
"I just went for it. We just wanted a medal this time, we didn't think it would be gold, just a medal. Well, we got gold and are the Olympic champions. It is absolutely crazy for a small country like ours."
Bol, who took the baton with her team in fourth place, said the memory of her fall just before the finish line at the 2023 world championships gave her added motivation.
"I was thinking: 'Just keep going, keep going'," she said.
"And the atmosphere in this stadium is absolutely incredible. It's crazy." ■
Femke Bol (front R) of team the Netherlands celebrates after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Femke Bol of team the Netherlands celebrates after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Athletes compete during the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Femke Bol (bottom) of team the Netherlands crosses the finish line during the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Eugene Omalla, Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink (from L to R) of team the Netherlands celebrate after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Athletes compete during the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Team the Netherlands celebrate after winning the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Femke Bol (R) and Lieke Klaver of team the Netherlands celebrate after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
Eugene Omalla, Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink (from L to R) of team the Netherlands celebrate after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Team the United States celebrate after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
(L to R) Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson and Amber Anning of team Britain celebrate after the 4x400m relay mixed final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
