The Fastest Women's 4x400m | Netherlands Destroyed The Field | Femke Bol

The Fastest Women's 4x400m | Netherlands Destroyed The Field | Femke Bol

The women’s 4×400 meters relay final at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul was a race defined by pressure, precision, and elite-level execution under championship conditions. With the indoor track offering little room for tactical errors, every baton exchange and every positioning decision became decisive. What unfolded was a masterclass from the Netherlands, crowned by an exceptional anchor leg from Femke Bol.

From the opening leg, the Dutch team established control without overcommitting. Their strategy was clear: stay close, avoid traffic, and preserve energy for the decisive stages. Italy, meanwhile, showed remarkable composure, positioning themselves firmly in medal contention through smooth transitions and disciplined pacing. Poland also remained well within striking distance, relying on consistency rather than early aggression.

The second and third legs intensified the race. Italy’s middle runners applied sustained pressure, briefly threatening to disrupt the Netherlands’ rhythm. Poland capitalized on any hesitation ahead of them, maintaining a compact formation that kept the podium battle alive. At this stage, the race was still wide open, with less than a second separating the top three teams.

Everything changed on the final leg. Femke Bol received the baton with responsibility and expectation weighing heavily on her shoulders. What followed was a demonstration of why she is considered one of the most dominant 400-meter athletes of her generation. Bol accelerated decisively on the back straight, immediately opening a gap that no other anchor could respond to. Her stride remained controlled yet explosive, perfectly adapted to the demands of indoor running.

Behind her, Italy fought valiantly to secure silver, setting a new national record of 3:28.61. Poland held on for bronze with a season’s best performance, resisting late pressure from the Czech Republic. Great Britain and Ireland, despite strong individual legs, were unable to recover from minor positioning losses earlier in the race.