Who is Sifan Hassan? Wins Historic Olympic Marathon Gold, Sets New Record

Sifan Hassan, a Dutch runner of Ethiopian origin, made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning gold in the women's marathon and setting a new Olympic record. Her achievements also include medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, making her one of the most versatile athletes in history.

Aug 12, 2024, 13:25 IST
Sifan Hassan
Sifan Hassan

Born in January 1993, Sifan Hassan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner of Ethiopian origin. She is well known for her extraordinary adaptability and has had outstanding athletic success over various distances.

Early Life and Career

Hassan was raised in the rural areas of Kersa after being born in Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia. When she was fifteen, she started running for sport and fled Ethiopia as a refugee, landing in the Netherlands in 2008. In 2013, she obtained Dutch citizenship while pursuing her nursing studies.

Major Achievements

Hassan's career highlights include:

2020 Tokyo Olympics: She created history by winning gold medals in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, along with a bronze in the 1,500 meters, becoming the first athlete to win medals in both middle- and long-distance events at a single Olympic Games.

2024 Paris Olympics: She won a bronze medal in the women's 5,000 meters and gold in the women's marathon, becoming the only woman to win Olympic gold in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and marathon.

World Championships: In 2019, she became the only athlete to win both the 1,500 meters and 10,000 meters at a single World Championships. She has also earned multiple medals at various World Indoor Championships and European Championships.

Marathon Success: Hassan debuted in the marathon in 2023, winning the London Marathon with a time of 2:18:33 and later setting a new course record at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:13:44, which is the second-fastest women's marathon ever.

Records

Since 2020, Hassan has broken multiple world records in the one-hour run, as well as multiple European records in distances ranging from 1,500 meters to the marathon. From 2019 to 2023, she was the world record holder for the mile on the track.

Sifan Hassan is one of the most talented middle- and long-distance runners in history; her journey from refugee to Olympic champion highlights her talent and dedication to athletics.

Sifan Hassan Wins Olympic Marathon Gold

Sifan Hassan capped off an incredible week at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning gold in the women's marathon, setting a new Olympic record of 2:22:55. The Dutch runner had already won bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m earlier in the Games.

Hassan became only the second athlete in history to win medals in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at a single edition of the Summer Games, matching the feat of Czech runner Emil Zatopek in 1952. However, unlike Zatopek who won gold in all three events, Hassan leaves Paris with one gold and two bronzes.

In a dramatic finish, Hassan defeated Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa by just three seconds in a sprint to the line. Kenya's Hellen Obiri took bronze in a personal best of 2:23:10.

"I feel like I am dreaming," Hassan said after the race. "At the end, I thought, 'This is just a 100m sprint. Come on, Sifan. One more. Just feel it, like someone who sprints 200m'".

The transformation of Sifan Hassan from an Olympic champion to a refugee is evidence of her determination, willpower, and unmatched brilliance. Her legendary accomplishments in the middle and long-distance secure her place in history as one of the greatest runners of all time, serving as an inspiration to upcoming generations of athletes worldwide.

 

 

 

 











Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 3 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. She writes for the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section of JagranJosh.com.

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