The final day of the 2024 European Athletics Championships had the Stadio Olimpico crowd on the edge of their seats for the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays, as the Netherlands’ women defended their title, while Alexander Doom of Belgium anchored his team to gold for the first time since 2018.
The Netherlands’ women’s team stormed through the finish to take the relay title in 3:22.39 ahead of Ireland, who ran 3:22.71 to shed nearly four seconds off of their previous national record for the silver.
The Dutch team, composed of Lieke Klaver, Cathelijn Peeters, Lisanne de Witte and Femke Bol, looked strong off the blocks, falling to Ireland in the second lap, but maintained their cool until superstar anchor Bol took over to blow Ireland’s lead and take the gold for her second time at the 2024 European Athletics Championships.
Belgium’s Jonathan Sacoor, Robin Vanderbemden, Dylan Borlée and Alexander Doom crossed the finish line in 3:59.84 to take the men’s 4x400m gold, coming in nearly an entire second ahead of Italy, who finished with a time of 3:00.81.
Headlining the Belgian men was 27-year-old Doom, who, two days ago, broke a championship record that held strong for nearly three decades, running the individual 400m in just 44.15 seconds.
More to come…