Sifan Hassan won the women’s marathon at Paris 2024, beating Ethiopian Tigst Assefa in a sprint finish and setting a new Olympic record for the event.
After a very demanding course that left its mark on the legs of all the Olympic marathoners, the Dutch runner had enough strength to change pace in the last 300 meters and crossed the finish line in 2:22:55.
Hassan surprised everyone weeks ago when she announced her intention to run four distances at Paris 2024: the 1,500 m, the 5,000 m, the 10,000 m, and the marathon. Although she ultimately withdrew from the shortest distance, she brilliantly completed the trio of medals at Paris 2024 with a gold medal and an Olympic record in the marathon.
The 31-year-old runner, who also won bronze in the other two events, achieved one of those feats that seemed impossible.
In this way, Hassan becomes the first woman to stand on the podium in these three distances at the same edition of the Olympic Games, a feat only achieved by the legendary Emil Zatopek among men. The Czech did it in Helsinki 1952, winning the gold medal in all three events.
In front of the crowd that packed the streets of the French capital in the final kilometers, Sifan Hassan proved to be the strongest, fastest, and most determined over the 42.195 kilometers, beating Tigst Assefa in a final sprint that capped off athletics at Paris 2024.
The Ethiopian took home the silver medal, while the bronze went to Kenyan Hellen Obiri.
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