World Championships in Athletics | The Fall and the Rise – Vimke Paul is the overwhelming world champion in the 400m hurdles

Dutch world champions are few and far between in athletics. It appears there were no fewer than four on the opening day of the IAAF World Championships in Budapest, but things went wrong in the mixed relay. The gold medal has already been written down, and almost awarded, but Paul crashes just before the finish.

The line can be that thin. And the shock was great. What happened here? “My leg didn’t want it, I’m not a robot,” Paul stammered, supported by her teammates. She’s still not a robot, but she is a world champion. And in the 400m hurdles he was still pretty good. Under tremendous pressure, she stood up.

And at any time! For the second time in her life, Paul ran under 52 seconds, this time in 51.70 seconds. This time it went well again on the last straight line, with every step she took away from her rivals. After passing the last hurdle, the great fun can really begin during the final metres.

The 23-year-old has already set world records, has already won Olympic bronze, has already won World Cup silver, even twice, but now Paul is in the running for gold. Once and for all he will be the world champion. In doing so, she won the Netherlands’ sixth gold medal at the World Championships in Athletics, spread over just three predecessors.

Bloom was the world’s best pole vaulter in 2005, Schippers won the 200m in 2017 and 2019, and Hassan was the best in the 1500m and 10,000m in 2019. Paul’s name can now be added to this impressive list, based on a great achievement.