Sifan Hassan had a singular goal in mind as she approached the Paris Olympics: to finish her races. “It’s my crazy thing,” she remarked, expressing curiosity about her own capabilities. Hassan, at 31, had a challenging quest ahead, as she aimed to compete in the Olympic Games’ three longest races—an endeavor only previously achieved by Emil Zátopek of Czechia.
A self-proclaimed fan of Zátopek, Hassan meticulously studied his career. In a bold move, she entered all three events, totaling 38.6 miles in just nine days. After securing bronze medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, she faced the daunting women’s marathon on Sunday, its very thought overwhelming her.
“Completing the marathon is a kind of hell,” she admitted. However, against all odds, not only did Hassan finish, but she also clinched gold.
Hassan set a new Olympic record with a time of 2:22.55 in the women’s marathon, a remarkable feat following her initial plan, which many deemed excessively ambitious. “I have so many emotions,” she shared after her victory, recalling her intense focus throughout the race.
As Hassan approached the final stretch, she and world record holder Tigst Assefa from Ethiopia were neck and neck. In a dramatic moment, she surged ahead in a stunning finish, showcasing her reputation as one of the sport’s best finishers. With only 150 meters left, Hassan maneuvered past Assefa, seizing the lead.
In that final stretch, under the warm sun of Paris, Hassan realized her dream—she was finishing and winning gold. The moment was marked by her jubilant celebration as she broke the Paris 2024-branded tape, solidifying her place in Olympic history.
In addition to her marathon gold, Hassan garnered bronze medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events, making her the first athlete to earn Olympic medals across these four distances. Reflecting on her success, she expressed disbelief at her accomplishments, especially given the grueling nature of the marathon.
Hassan’s time surpassed the previous Olympic record of 2:23.07, set by Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana in 2012. Assefa finished closely behind for silver, clocking in at 2:22.58, while Hellen Obiri of Kenya secured bronze with a time of 2:23.10. American runners Dakotah Lindwurm and Emily Sisson finished in 12th and 23rd places, respectively, with Fiona O’Keeffe not completing the race.
The marathon served as a fitting finale for Hassan’s extraordinary Olympic journey. Although she is not a traditional marathoner, having only made her professional marathon debut last April when she triumphed at the London Marathon, her recent success has been nothing short of historic.
Hassan’s relentless pursuit of success stems from her past: as a refugee from Ethiopia who arrived in the Netherlands at 15, she often felt isolated. Now, she stands as a beacon of inspiration in the athletics world, demonstrating remarkable resilience and achievement.