World champion Femke Bol set a new competition record on Saturday in London by winning the women’s 400m hurdles during the Diamond League.

During her final warm-up for the Olympic Games in Paris, Bol ran a time of 51.30 seconds, improving her best time, which she had run last year at the London Stadium, by 0.15 seconds.

“I love running here in this stadium, it’s so special and it’s fantastic to be able to play on such a great field,” said Bol, who finished third at the Covid-postponed Tokyo Olympics when world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won gold.

“I’m super happy with my performance today. I’m working on my opening and reaching that first hurdle.”

Bol became only the second woman to break the 51-second barrier in this tough event last weekend.

The Dutch athlete ran a time of 50.95 seconds in Switzerland on Sunday, breaking her own European record of 51.45 seconds.

Bol looked at Paris and said the idea of ​​fighting McLaughlin-Levrone made his mouth water.

“I’m looking forward to Paris and of course I want to do my best race there,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to racing Sydney — it will challenge both of us. I’ll be ready for that and of course for the relay.”

Bol said the race between McLaughlin and Levrone was both an inspiration and a motivation.

It’s rare to actually see McLaughlin-Levrone racing on track, but it’s fair to say Bol is everywhere.

This season she won the 400m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, before winning two more golds and a bronze at the European Outdoor Championships in Rome in June. And that’s without mentioning her participation in various athletics events.

“Everyone does it their own way,” she said when asked about her and McLaughlin-Levrone’s differing racing schedules.

“We don’t see each other often, but we’ll see each other in Paris!”

In the London race, American Shamier Little finished second with a season record of 52.78 seconds, while Jamaican Rushell Clayton completed the podium (53.24).

Little, however, missed out on the three hurdles places for the American team in the grueling trials, won by McLaughlin-Levrone in her world record time of 50.65 seconds.

But she will go to Paris as part of the women’s 4x400m relay team.

“I really wanted to stay upright today, stay focused and put in a good time,” she said.

“I am very excited about the relay in Paris because I love the team atmosphere of the relay and the Olympic Games.

“I’ve never done a relay at this level before, so I’m really excited. As Team USA, we expect a medal and a good time, so of course I want to be part of that.”

lp/mw/bsp