Fimke Paul promised to take part in the Van Damme memorial in Brussels. The athlete will compete with her main rival, Sidney McLaughlin-Levroni, in the Diamond League match on September 8 in the 400-meter hurdles.
The 23-year-old Paul will compete against the American world record holder in Belgium for the first time this year. The two also raced against each other in the 2021 Olympics and last year’s World Cup.
McLaughlin Levroni won both encounters. Paul was to take bronze at the Games in Tokyo, while winning silver at the US Eugene Championships last year. McLaughlin Levrone has taken gold twice.
The 24-year-old American ran the world record of 50.68 seconds at last year’s World Cup. Paul’s best time in the 400m hurdles is 51.45. I ran this European record in London last month. Paul thus crushed her previous time of 52.03.
Paul is currently preparing for the World Cup in Budapest. The tournament starts in a week and a half. In Hungary, the Dutch will not compete in the 400-meter hurdles against McLaughlin-Levron, who prefers the 400-meter flat.
The World Athletics Championships start on Saturday 19 August. The first round of the women’s 400m hurdles is scheduled to start on Monday, August 21st.
