While there will be no shortage of thrilling events to come at the Olympics over the coming days, one of the more intriguing clashes will come in the women's 400m hurdles.
Sydney McLaughlin and Femke Bol are two of the biggest stars in world athletics at the moment, with the pair set to face off in Paris next week.
The American has been the dominant force in this event for a number of years, winning gold in Tokyo as well as the World Championships in 2022. She also broke the world record in that Tokyo final, going on to better that mark on three occasions since, most recently at the American trials in June.
However, many feel that Femke Bol will provide a stern test in Paris.
The Dutchwoman is the defending world champion, claiming gold in Budapest last year when McLaughlin was absent from the field due to a knee injury. She has only gone from strength to strength since then, including in last night's 4x400m mixed relay final, where she powered her nation to victory over the Americans.
She will be hoping for a repeat result in Thursday's individual final.
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Sonia O'Sullivan Sums Up USA's Odd View Of Femke Bol
The heats for the women's 400m hurdles took place in Paris this morning, with both Sydney McLaughlin and Femke Bol strolling to victory in their respective races and booking their spot in an Olympic semi-final.
Bol's run came only a matter of hours after her exploits in last night's relay, something that is sure to caught the attentions of those across the Atlantic.
In fact, it seems as though many in American athletics were paying very little attention to the Dutchwoman prior to that point. She has not faced McLaughlin all that often due to the American's tendency to only race in the biggest events.
Speaking on RTÉ, Sonia O'Sullivan summed up the view that she has heard many in the USA held of Bol prior to the Olympics. She also backed the European runner to win next week's 400m hurdles final.
With Femke Bol, it's a shame they don't race each other more often. They don't get to work each other out, the only thing you can do is watch videos and see how they manage the hurdles...
[McLaughlin] doesn't need to (compete often). Some athletes need to race more than others. If you don't need to race, you just get on with and are happy to go training, you don't have the pressure of travelling and lining up to race.
Then I suppose all that nervous energy is built up for these big championship races and you don't waste energy by running around.
It is a different thing though because you train to race...
I think Femke Bol has probably attracted a lot more fans around the world than Sydney McLaughlin. Sydney McLaughlin will have her pocket of fans in the US and they will think she's the greatest thing ever.
Half of them, they probably will have never heard of Femke Bol until she beats her next week...
I read something that the Americans are only really taking notice of [Bol] after she beat the Americans in that mixed 4x400m relay last night.
It will be interesting to see how the clash between Sydney McLaughlin and Femke Bol is billed in the lead up to next week's race, although there is no doubt that the Americans will expect their runner to win relatively comfortable.
It should make for one of the most exciting races of this summer's Olympics.
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