Dutch athlete Femke Broeders-Bol finished second in the women's 800-meter race at the Diamond League in Paris on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
She clocked a time of 1:55.60, falling just 0.06 seconds short of the Dutch national record of 1:55.54 held by Ellen van Langen since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Race Highlights
Audrey Werro of Switzerland won the race with a historic time of 1:53.80, the fastest 800-meter time ever recorded in Diamond League history.
The 22-year-old from Fribourg used pace setting by Myrte van der Schoot and electronic green wave lighting to target the 1983 world record of 1:53.28, though warm weather conditions impacted the attempt.
This was Broeders-Bol's first 800-meter race in the Diamond League circuit, following her previous record of 31 victories and five titles in the 400-meter hurdles.
It was her third outdoor appearance of the season, after a debut time of 1:57.13 in Ostrava and a victory of 1:57.41 at the FBK Games in Hengelo.
Only Van Langen and Sifan Hassan (personal best 1:56.81) have run faster times among Dutch athletes in this event.
After the race, Broeders-Bol discussed her transition to the longer distance and the shift in competitive pressure.
"It seems like I am calmer now that I run the 800 meters," she said.
"In the 400 hurdles, there was always stress because I just had to win.
Now I go into my races much more open, and that makes it all different."
She described her exceptionally fast time as "bizarre."
In the men's 800-meter, Niels Laros also finished second with a time of 1:43.60, behind Canadian Marco Arop (1:41.84).
Laros lowered his personal best by 0.23 seconds, approaching the Dutch national record of 1:43.45 set by Bram Som in 2006.
In field events, Dutch shot putter Jessica Schilder placed third with a throw of 19.88 meters, as Canada's Sarah Mitton won with 19.99 meters and Germany's Yemisi Mabry took second at 19.93 meters.
Lieke Klaver finished fourth in the women's 400-meter sprint with a time of 49.97 seconds, breaking the 50-second barrier for the first time in two years.
The 400-meter race was won by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who set a world-leading seasonal time and a Diamond League record of 48.48 seconds.
