Paris, August 11, 2024 – In an extraordinary display of endurance and determination, Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan has set a new Olympic record in the women’s marathon at the Paris 2024 Games. Hassan conquered the challenging course through Paris’s iconic landmarks, finishing in a stunning time of 2:22:55.
The 31-year-old runner, who made headlines with her ambitious goal of achieving the 5000m/10,000m/marathon treble, has now firmly established her place in Olympic history. Following her gold medal in the marathon, Hassan also clinched bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m, making her the first woman ever to medal in these three distance events at a single Olympic Games. The only athlete to have matched this feat is the legendary Czech runner Emil Zatopek, who achieved three golds in Helsinki in 1952.
Reflecting on her remarkable performance, Hassan expressed her disbelief: “I feel like I am dreaming. I only see people on the TV who are Olympic champions. The marathon is something else, you know. When you do 42 kilometers in more than two hours and 20 minutes, every single step is so hard and so painful. When I finished, the whole moment was a release. It is unbelievable. I have never experienced anything like that.”
The Paris marathon course, known for its steep inclines and rapid descents, tested Hassan’s resolve, but the cheering crowd of Paris provided a formidable boost. She outpaced Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in a dramatic sprint finish to secure gold, while Assefa earned silver with a time of 2:22:58. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took bronze with a time of 2:23:10.
Hassan’s triumph not only highlights her incredible versatility and stamina but also cements her legacy as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time.
