Bol retains world crown but laments McLaughlin-Levrone absence / Photo: Philip FONG - AFP
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Bol retains world crown but laments McLaughlin-Levrone absence
Femke Bol emphatically retained her 400m hurdles world title on Friday and then admitted that absent Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone probably would have beaten her.
Dutchwoman Bol blazed home in 51.54sec in Tokyo, ahead of American Jasmine Jones and Slovakia's Emma Zapletalova.
The race was notable for the absence of McLaughlin-Levrone, who chose not to compete in the hurdles in the Japanese capital so she could concentrate on the 400m flat race.
The decision paid off handsomely, with the American clocking the second-fastest time ever to win Thursday's final.
Bol said her victory was "a dream come true" but admitted she would have preferred to beat McLaughlin-Levrone to earn it.
"I most likely wouldn't be here with the gold medal but I really love to race her," said the 25-year-old Dutchwoman.
"She's the best athlete to ever do it in my event so I would have loved to do it, but I also love to see her do so well in the 400 metres."
Bol's win marked the end of another successful season after completing an incredible sixth Diamond League campaign unbeaten.
But she has not fared as well in her infrequent match-ups with McLaughlin-Levrone, who beat her into third place on the way to gold at last year's Paris Olympics.
Bol's first world title, in Budapest two years ago, also came without having to beat McLaughlin-Levrone, who missed the competition through injury.
McLaughlin-Levrone hinted on Thursday that she could attempt a remarkable 400m hurdles-flat double at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Bol said she would "love to see her do both".
"If she feels physically ready for that, that would be amazing to see because I think if someone could pull it off, it would be her," she said.
- Wedding bells -
Even without McLaughlin-Levrone, Bol faced competition in Tokyo from Paris Games silver medallist Anna Cockrell and her American compatriot Dalilah Muhammad.
Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion, was looking for one final hurrah at the age of 35.
Instead it was Jones who gave Bol the stiffest challenge, rounding the final bend within striking distance of the Dutchwoman.
Bol stretched her legs to cross the line the comfortable winner, with Jones taking silver in a personal best of 52.03sec.
Zapletalova took bronze in a national record of 53.00.
Bol said taking a break after the Paris Olympics had helped her prepare for her successful season.
"It really gave me some time to just get my head a bit out of the whole track and field and then get back in with a lot of motivation," she said.
"I simply love track and field, I love to run, I love to train hard, so I think the motivation wasn't hard."
Bol said she had made a conscious decision not to think too much about the 2028 Olympics this season in a bid to relieve the pressure on herself.
She announced her engagement to Belgian pole vaulter Ben Broeders in July and said planning their wedding was "a great distraction".
"As a track and field athlete you work really hard, but you also have a lot of time to rest, and it's also a nice thing to think about," she said.
H.Giordano--IM
