In a stunning display of endurance and versatility, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands clinched gold in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, August 11, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds. This victory marks the culmination of an extraordinary triple medal performance for Hassan at these Games, having previously secured bronze medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events.Hassan’s triumph in the marathon was hard-fought, as she edged out world record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia by a mere three seconds. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri claimed the bronze medal, finishing 15 seconds behind the winner. The 31-year-old Dutch athlete, born in Ethiopia, showcased remarkable resilience and tactical acumen, particularly considering she had only 35 hours of recovery time following her participation in the 10,000m final on Friday night.’It wasn’t easy. The weather was very hot, but I felt good,’ Hassan remarked after her victory. ‘I’ve never pushed myself to the finish line like I did today. I started crying with joy when I realized the magnitude of my victory’. Her achievement is all the more impressive given the challenging nature of the Paris marathon course, which featured hills and valleys.Hassan’s performance draws comparisons to the legendary feat of Emil Zatopek, who won gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. While Hassan didn’t quite replicate Zatopek’s triple gold, her medal haul across three grueling events is a testament to her exceptional athleticism and versatility.This Olympic marathon gold adds to Hassan’s already impressive resume, which includes victories in the 2023 London Marathon and the 2022 Chicago Marathon. Her success in Paris brings her total Olympic medal count to six, cementing her status as one of the greatest distance runners of her generation.
Key points
- Sifan Hassan won gold in the women’s marathon at Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a new Olympic record of 2:22:55.
- Hassan completed a triple medal performance, adding marathon gold to bronze medals in 5,000m and 10,000m events.
- The Dutch athlete overcame challenging conditions and minimal recovery time to secure her victory.
- Hassan’s achievement draws comparisons to Emil Zatopek’s legendary triple gold performance in 1952.
