Sifan Hassan had one goal in mind: to finish the marathon. The 31-year-old athlete expressed her curiosity about whether she could make it to the podium, questioning her strength as she prepared for a daunting challenge at the Paris Olympics.
What Hassan aimed to achieve was certainly ambitious. In the history of the Olympics, only Emil Zátopek from Czechia has medaled in the three longest events: the 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon. Hassan, a devoted fan of Zátopek, decided to follow in his footsteps, competing in all three events over nine days.
After securing bronze in both the 5000m and 10,000m, the women’s marathon awaited her on Sunday. The prospect of this final event left her feeling overwhelmed. “To finish the marathon is a kind of hell,” Hassan remarked prior to the race.
Despite her initial fears, Hassan not only finished but also emerged victorious, setting an Olympic record with a time of 2:22.55. Her journey in Paris concluded with three Olympic medals and a new record.
“I have so many emotions,” Hassan expressed right after her win. “I was scared of this race. I was never more focused in my life, until that moment. For two hours, I was focused every step.”
The marathon’s climax brought an exhilarating showdown between Hassan and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, the world record holder. As they approached the final stretch, Hassan, in her bright orange uniform, and Assefa, in Ethiopian green, were neck and neck. Assefa led slightly, but Hassan drew on her renowned finishing speed. In a decisive moment, she maneuvered past Assefa, taking the lead just 150 meters from the finish line and sprinting ahead.
Hassan recalled her thoughts during that pivotal moment: “At the end, I thought, ‘This is just a 100-meter sprint.’ Come on, Sifan. One more. Just feel it.” As she made the final turn onto the finish line, Hassan realized that she was about to achieve her goal.
Upon crossing the finish line, she celebrated with her fingers raised to the sky, letting out a powerful scream as she secured her place in Olympic history.
In Paris, Hassan amassed marathon gold, along with bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m. In Tokyo, she won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m and added a bronze in the 1,500m. This remarkable achievement makes her the first athlete to earn Olympic medals across these four distance events, establishing her uniqueness in the sport.
“I feel like I am dreaming,” Hassan said. “The marathon is something else. When you do 42 kilometers in over two hours and 20 minutes, every single step feels so hard and painful.”
Her record time almost surpassed the previous Olympic best of 2:23.07, set by Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana at the 2012 London Games. Assefa secured silver with a time of 2:22.58, marking her first Olympic medal, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took bronze in 2:23.10, adding to her Olympic accolades.
American runners Dakotah Lindwurm and Emily Sisson finished 12th and 23rd, respectively, while Fiona O’Keeffe, the 2024 U.S. Marathon Trials champion, did not finish the race.
As the final track and field event of the Paris Olympics celebrated Hassan, a well-deserved break awaited her after such an intense competition. Remarkably, Hassan is not primarily a marathon runner; she only made her professional marathon debut in April 2023, winning the London Marathon while observing Ramadan.
Reflecting on her experiences, she noted, “I never thought I would finish a marathon.” Yet she did finish, achieving her goal amidst a challenging course that included more than 1,430 feet of elevation and a steep climb.
Hassan’s journey is not just about records but also about resilience and inspiration. Fleeing Ethiopia as a refugee at the age of 15, she overcame loneliness and adversity to become a celebrated athlete, earning her place as a hero to many.