Dutch supporters will be asking the question, why us?
On an evening that had you questioning the workings of your very eyes, Holland were left battered, bruised, bleeding, medal-less.
And that was the most painful thing of all.
Twice, their athletes led around the home bend. Twice, they led with 50 metres to go, twice, they led with ten to go. But twice, in the space of half an hour, their World Athletics Championship dreams went up in smoke, nose-diving into the Budapest cinder in the final five metres.
Sifan Hassan, the miracle woman of distance running was the first to come a cropper.
The Olympic champion largely stayed out of trouble in the 10,000m final, stalking the field from the back of the pack before striking at the bell. It looked like she’d timed it all to utter perfection.
She stormed clear of Ethiopia’s Tsegay and Gidey only for her legs to go from under her. Hassan, who unbelievably will compete in the 1500m and the 5000m later on in the week, had surrendered gold for a cut knee and a bloodied elbow.
There was no silver or bronze for consolation as Ethiopia completed a one, two, three. Afterwards, despite initially feeling that she was pushed, Hassan gave an incredibly sporting interview.
“I’m really disappointed but this is sport, this can happen. It’s not the end of the world you know.
❗ *…I lost balance and I fell down…"
~ Sifan Hassan
Sifan is one classy young woman.
Dear @henokgabisa with all due respect, you are mistaken. .She was not pushed. She, herself said so.
Let's always go with the truth. https://t.co/EvJDWRJyc2 pic.twitter.com/5BQOI1VBbH
— Naty Berhane Yifru (@NatyYifru) August 20, 2023
“Athletics is full of ups and downs. That’s what makes it beautiful. It’s always challenging us. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, sometimes we fall, sometimes we stand up.
“Tomorrow, I will race the 1500m. I have to be grateful for what I have. I have to be disciplined and accept it all, that’s what makes it easier.
“We touched and I lost balance and I fall down. Sometimes it happens. These things happen.”
Unbelievably, it was a case of deja-vu half an hour later when Femke Bol fell in the dying strides of the mixed 4 x 400m relay.
“I would like my revenge.”
That’s it that’s all ladies and gentlemen 🫡 Femke Bol bout to show y’all something!#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/gKwzE651in
— Katelyn Hutchison ✨ (@kxnaomi) August 19, 2023
Speaking after the race, a distraught Bol vowed to bounce back in the individual 400m hurdles.
“I would like my revenge,” she said.
Disaster for the Dutch again! 😮
In the mixed 4x400m relay, Femke Bol falls just metres from the line.
The USA claim 🥇 and set a world record, Great Britain take 🥈 and the Czech Republic 🥉#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/JvsAPEnzFX
— Eurosport (@eurosport) August 19, 2023
What a night in Budapest.
