Hassan Wins Olympic Marathon with Record Time

On August 11, Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands made history by winning the women’s marathon at the Olympics in Paris with a stunning time of 2:22:55, breaking the Olympic record.

Hassan’s journey to this achievement raised eyebrows when she announced her intention to compete in three events: the 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon. Today’s gold medal in the marathon, alongside her bronze medals in the shorter distances, proves her incredible talent and determination.

With this victory, Hassan became the first woman ever to win medals in this combination of events at the same Olympics. The only other athlete to achieve such a feat was a legendary Czech runner back in 1936.

The marathon course gave runners a tough challenge, featuring steep inclines and fast downhills. But with a supportive crowd cheering her on, Hassan showcased her strength, finishing just ahead of Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who took silver, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, securing the bronze.

This win marks a significant milestone for Hassan, who now has six Olympic medals to her name, including three from Paris and three from Tokyo. At the last Olympics, she won two gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m events.

Despite a challenging journey, including leaving Ethiopia to start a new life in the Netherlands, Hassan’s dedication to running was clear. After a brief moment of doubt following a disappointing performance in 2022, she returned stronger, claiming two golds at the 2019 world championships.

Her foray into marathon running was recent, but she quickly made a name for herself, winning both the London and Chicago Marathons in 2023. However, her Olympic win in Paris may stand out as her greatest moment, as she achieved it after competing in multiple track events in just a week.