Femke Bol has won her first world athletics title in the 400 metres hurdles with the eighth fastest time over the distance on Thursday evening in Budapest.

Bol, who fell just before the finish of the 4-x400 mixed relay on the opening day of the games, was favourite to win the race and covered the distance in 51.70, her second-fastest time.  

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The 23-year-old was second at last year’s world championships and third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Bol dedicated her medal to her relay teammates and said they, her coaches, friends, family and her psychologist had helped her to get past her fall. 

“They supported me,” Bol told reporters “At one point, we said, ‘tournament one (the mixed relay) is done. Tournament two (400 hurdles) starts and we’re going to go through the heats and build up confidence and do our best.”