RIVALS IN AWE OF HASSAN

Dutchwoman’s marathon win after track feats has everyone gushing

Sifan Hassan sprinted through the finish of the marathon and straight into the pantheon of Olympic greats on Aug 11, completing her astonishing Games agenda with a gold medal after taking bronze in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.

A hundred years on from Paavo Nurmi's five golds in Paris, the 2024 Games got the athletics hero they had been waiting for in Hassan, who became the first since Czech Emil Zatopek in 1952 to medal in those three events.

"Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5,000m and 10,000m. I was telling myself if I hadn't done that, I would feel great today," said the 31-year-old Dutchwoman.

"From the beginning to the end, it was so hard. Every step of the way, I was thinking, 'Why did I do that? What is wrong with me?' If I hadn't done it, I would feel so comfortable here." Hassan stunned fans three years ago when she attempted a rare Olympic treble in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m taking bronze in the shorter distance and winning the two longer races.

She earned headlines again this time around with the inclusion of the marathon for Paris.

Throngs of reporters tuned in to hear her announce which she would actually run, with few predicting she would really try the gruelling distance road run on top of the two longer track events.