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Femke Bol has paid a heartfelt tribute to retiring Dutch Olympian celebrating his inspirational six-time Olympic career and lasting legacy in track and field for the Netherlands.
Olympics women’s 4 × 400 metres relay gold medalist Femke Bol has expressed deep admiration and gratitude for Churandy Martina as he hangs up his spikes.
Martina, a six-time Olympian and a trailblazer for Dutch athletics, officially retired after representing the Netherlands at the highest level for over two decades.
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Bol, fresh off her medal-winning performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics, shared her sentiments on social media, calling Martina a "legend" and applauding his remarkable contribution to track and field.
In a touching post, she reshared a tribute video created by the Dutch Athletics Federation, celebrating Martina’s journey.
“What a career @martina200m,” Bol wrote, encapsulating the pride and respect felt by athletes and fans alike.
Martina’s career began at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he competed in the 100m after the honor of being the Netherlands' flag bearer.
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Though his journey ended in the quarterfinals, the experience laid the foundation for a storied legacy.
Four years later, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Martina set a national record of 9.99 seconds in the 100m and qualified for the finals.
He narrowly missed a podium finish, clocking 9.93 seconds—an improvement on his previous record—and coming in fourth against legends like Usain Bolt.
It was in Beijing that Martina etched his name into Olympic lore.
Competing in the 200m final, he initially finished behind Bolt but was later disqualified for a lane infringement.
In a powerful act of sportsmanship, American sprinter Shawn Crawford, who had inherited the medal, later handed it back to Martina, citing fairness and respect.
Femke Bol, reflecting on these moments, spoke of the inspiration Martina provided.
“He showed us what it means to compete with grace, resilience, and integrity. Churandy made us believe that Dutch athletes could shine on the global stage,” Bol said in an interview.
“He never stopped pushing boundaries and always wore the biggest smile, no matter the outcome.”
Martina continued his Olympic journey at London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
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His influence extended beyond the track, inspiring younger generations of Dutch athletes, including Bol, who credits him as a motivating force in her own career.
Bol herself has had a monumental 2024 season, securing three Olympic medals.
Her standout performance came in the mixed 4x400m relay, where she anchored the team to a gold medal.
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She also delivered a silver medal in the women’s 4x400m relay and earned bronze in the 400m hurdles.
Despite her achievements, Bol graciously acknowledged her teammate Sifan Hassan, who was named Dutch Athlete of the Year for her historic gold in the marathon and double bronze in the 5000m and 10,000m events.
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