Femke Bol of the Netherlands, the world champion, is set to compete today, Monday, Sept. 4, at the Continental Tour Gala dei Castelli 2023 in Bellinzona, Switzerland. The event is part of the 2023 World Athletics Continental Tour Silver series.
How fast will Femke Bol run in her return?
Making her first appearance since clinching two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last month, Bol will compete in the women’s 400m and is the overwhelming favorite. She comes into the competition with a world-leading and personal best time of 51.45 seconds, set in London in July.
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Bol recently clocked a gold medal-winning time of 51.70 seconds in Budapest and played a significant role in the Netherlands’ win in the women’s 4x400m relay. The 23-year-old aims to continue her late-season form as she fulfills her remaining commitments on the European circuit.
The Olympic bronze medalist will compete against Shamier Little of the USA, a two-time world silver medalist who trailed her by more than a second at the world championships.
Live streaming broadcast of the Gala dei Castelli 2023 is on the AtletikaTV YouTube Channel and FloTrack/FloSports
Yasmin Giger, the Swiss champion initially listed among the starters, is not on today’s entry list.
Today will see Femke Bol making her first appearance in Bellinzona since setting the meeting record of 54.01 at the Gala dei Castelli meet in 2021.
In the men’s 400m hurdles, Brazil’s 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos leads the field. The Olympic bronze medalist finished fifth in Budapest with a time of 48.10 seconds but rebounded with a third-place finish at the Zurich Diamond League meeting last week.
At today’s Continental Tour Gala dei Castelli, Dos Santos will face competition from Trevor Bassitt of the USA, a 2022 world bronze medalist, as well as France’s European silver medalist Wilfried Happio and teammate Ludvy Vaillant.
Meanwhile, the likes of Elaine Thompson-Herah, Alison dos Santos, Oblique Seville, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn are also down to compete here today.
Photo Diamond League AG
