Wanda Diamond League champion Femke Bol will be out to make an early statement in her title defence when she heads up the 400m hurdles at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala in Florence on June 2nd.
Bol has been the undisputed queen of the 400m hurdles over the last two Diamond League seasons, claiming the Diamond Trophy in 2021 and 2022, and winning 11 out of 15 Diamond League races over the course of the two years.
That run of dominance began with her victory in Florence back in June 2021, and she now returns to the city hoping to extend it further in the season ahead. Bol clocked 53.44 at the Stadio Luigi Ridolfi two years ago, but has since improved her PB to a European record of 52.08. The Diamond League record holder will have her eye on the Golden Gala meeting record, currently held by Lashinda Demus with 52.82.
Bol goes into this season on fine form, having cemented her status as one of global athletics' biggest stars during the 2023 indoor season. She broke the 400m world indoor record by a significant margin on home soil in Apeldoorn in February, before going on to be crowned European indoor champion in both the 400m and 4x400m relay in Istanbul.
With 14 victories under her belt since 2020, she remains the woman to beat in the Wanda Diamond League, and is also set to compete at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne on June 30th.
The Wanda Diamond League is athletics' premier one-day series, comprising 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.
Click here to see the 2023 Wanda Diamond League calendar in full.
