On Sunday, Dutch athletics star Femke Bol made her debut in the 800 meter race in Metz, France, and immediately broke the national record for the distance. The 25-year-old, who is a double world champion in the 400 meter hurdles and won gold in the mixed 4x400 meter relay at the Paris Olympics, expressed her desire to challenge herself in the 800 meters back in October. Her impressive time of 1:59.07 not only marked a personal milestone but also set a new indoor record for the Netherlands.

In the global context, Bol's performance places her among the top contenders for the season, with only four women having recorded faster times this year. Leading the world rankings is Isabelle Boffey, who achieved a time of 1:57.43 in Boston at the end of January. This indicates a competitive season ahead as Bol prepares to face off against these elite athletes in upcoming events, making her one to watch in the sport.

The Metz event also featured other noteworthy performances, including Norway's Henriette Jäger, who clocked a time of 50.62 in the 400 meters, marking the best time for the season in that category. Additionally, both Mattia Furlani and Bozhidar Saraboyukov achieved jumps of 8.39 meters in men's long jump, positioning themselves at the top of the world rankings. With such remarkable achievements across various events, the Metz meet showcased a significant start to the athletics season.