Sifan Hassan Secures Olympic Marathon Gold with Record-Breaking Run in Paris

Paris 2024 Olympic Games Women's Marathon: Dutch star Sifan Hassan claimed the gold medal in the women’s marathon improving Tiki Gelana’s Olympic record with 2:22:55. Hassan completed a treble after winning bronze medals in both the 5000 and the 10000 metres bringing her total to six Olympic medals in her career. Hassan claimed her third Olympic gold medal after winning the 5000m and the 10000m in Tokyo. She also won the bronze medal in the 1500m in the Japanese capital and a total of six world medals over distances between the 1500m and the 10000m. 

Hassan attempted to achieve the treble in the same edition of the Olympic Games. Only Czech legend Emil Zatopek won three Olympic gold medals 5000m, the 10000m and marathon in the same edition in Helsinki 1952. Hassan managed to win over the three distances in two consecutive editions. 

Hassan held off world marathon record holder Tigist Assefa in a close sprint finish. Assefa crossed the finish-line in 2:22.58, also dipping inside Gelana’s previous Olympic record set in London 2012. Double world 5000 metres champion Hellen Obiri from Kenya claimed the bronze medal improving her PB to 2:23:10. 

The top six finishers set PBs despite hot weather conditions. Sharon Lokedi, winner in New York in 2022, finished fourth in a lifetime best of 2:23:14 beating Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso (fifth in 2:23:57) and Japan’s Yuka Suzuki, who set a PB of 2:24:02. 

Hassan, Assefa and Obiri dropped Lokedi in the final stages. The race came down to a thrilling battle between two sub-2:00 minute 800 metres runners Hassan and Assefa. Hassan edged Assefa in the final metres by three seconds, the closest margin in a women’s Olympic marathon race.

A large group went through the 10 km mark in 34:32. A 20-women pack reached the 21 km in 1:13:22. 

Beriso, Assefa and Lokedi pushed the pace at the front, as Hassan dropped back. 

However, Hassan closed the gap and caught back the leading group formed by Lokedi, Assefa, Beriso and Peres Jepchirchir at 30 km.

Jepchirchir dropped back at 33 km and the lead pack was whittled down to five runners: Lokedi, Assefa, Beriso, Hassan and Obiri. Beriso was the next to drop back, as they reached the 40 km mark. 

Obiri, Hassan and Assefa dropped Lokedi at 41 km. Assefa and Hassan launched their sprint and Obiri was not able to match their pace. 

Hassan outsprinted Assefa to win the Olympic title and raised her arms in celebration. 

Hassan won the London Marathon on her debut in 2:18:33 in 2023 and the Chicago Marathon last October improving the European record to 2:13:44. 

Sifan Hassan: 

“I have so many emotions. I was scared of this race. I have no words. Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran 5000m and 10000m. I was telling myself if I had not done that, I would feel great today. The moment I started to feel good at 20 km, I knew I wanted gold, but everybody else was fresh and all I was thinking was: ‘When are they going to break ? They are going to run hard. At the end I thought: ‘This is a 100 metres sprint. Come on  Sifan. One more. Just feel it, like someone who sprints 200 metres”. 

Women's Marathon Top Results:

Paris Olympic Games Women's Marathon Full Results.