In a display of extraordinary endurance and sheer willpower, Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan achieved one of the most memorable feats in Olympic history by winning the women’s marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Ethiopian-born runner’s performance has been hailed as one of the greatest in the sport, as she secured gold with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55, completing a historic treble.
Just days before her marathon victory, Hassan had already showcased her remarkable versatility and stamina by medaling in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, becoming the first woman to medal in all three distance events in the same Olympic Games.
Her marathon triumph capped a week of extraordinary athletic achievement, solidifying her place among the all-time greats.
The women’s marathon race, held on Sunday morning, saw a thrilling finish as Hassan and Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa emerged as the leading contenders.
With just 250 meters remaining, Hassan unleashed her signature finishing kick, overcoming an elbow from Assefa that attempted to impede her advance. Hassan surged past Assefa, sprinting to the finish line to claim gold in dramatic fashion.
Reflecting on her victory, Hassan admitted to feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, lying flat on her back and marveling at her accomplishment.
“I’m Olympic champion. How is this possible?” she said.
Hassan’s journey to this momentous win was fraught with self-doubt and physical exhaustion. Earlier in the week, she had completed 50 laps of Stade de France’s track, earning bronze medals in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.
Despite her past successes, including medaling in the 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, Hassan confessed to feeling apprehensive about the marathon distance.
Running a grueling 26.2 miles through a course that extended from central Paris to Versailles—a route evocative of key moments from the French Revolution—Hassan grappled with doubts and fatigue.
“When I started this morning, every single moment I was regretting that I ran the 5,000 and 10,000,” she admitted. “From the beginning to the end, I felt so hard every step. I was like, what have I done? What is wrong with me?”
Despite these challenges, Hassan’s determination and grit saw her through to an awe-inspiring victory.
“I challenged myself and I’m so freaking grateful,” she remarked.
Sifan Hassan’s performance in Paris will be remembered as one of the greatest distance-running achievements in Olympic history.
