She raced an absent rival in her headSourced
The runner ahead of the champion existed only in her imagination.
Lieke Klaver won the women's 400 metres at the 2025 European indoor championships in the Netherlands. Afterward she said she had imagined absent compatriot Femke Bol running in front of her, using that thought to keep pushing through the race.
An imaginary rival helped drive a real victory.
Wikipedia: 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres ↗People and experiences
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2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres · Wikimedia contributors
2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres ↗
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Reviewed: 2026-10-01