The 22-year-old 400 metres hurdles specialist, who won Olympic bronze in 2021 and world silver last year behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States, thus eclipsed the mark of 49.59 set by the formidable Czech runner in Milan on March 7 1982.

"I was hoping for a 49.5 here, but 49.26. I really have no words for this," an incredulous Bol told Dutch media after her record-breaking feat.

"It is my first world record at a real distance.

“Could it be even faster?

"This was almost a perfect race."

Bol dipped under 50 seconds for the first time indoors when she ran 49.96 in Metz last weekend and was looking to go even faster at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Lievin on Wednesday (February 15) but had to settle for victory in 50.20.

Now she has earned herself a historic world record to add to the two world bests she already has to her name.

Last year in Ostrava she set a world 300m hurdles best of 36.86, and she opened her season at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Boston on February 4 by breaking the 17-year-old 500m mark of 1:06.31 with a time of 1:05.63.

This was Bol’s last race before the Istanbul 2023 European Athletics Indoor Championships from March 2 to 5 where she will defend her titles in the 400m and 4x400m relay.