AA Correspondent
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands completed a rare medal treble, adding the women’s marathon gold to the two bronze she won earlier on track, as the athletics programme at the Paris Olympics wound up on Sunday.
In a brave attempt to go for a quadrupule, Hassan had entered 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and the marathon, but withdrew from the shortest distance apparently to conserve her energy. Even after this, it was doubtful whether the Dutchwoman would be able to complete the medal treble.
Hassan sped past world-record holder Tigist Assefa in a furious dash to the tape from about 200 metres out, brushing the Ethiopian slightly on the way as she made her way through on the inside.
On a difficult course and despite the hot conditions, Hassan clocked an Olympic record of 2:22:55 and was followed by Assefa in 2:22:58 and Kenyan Helen Obiri, a better-known track runner, in a personal best 2:23;10. Japan’s Yuka Suzuki, who kept pace with the front pack of five for up to around 39km, dropped back a little to eventually finish sixth in a personal best 2:24:02.
“When I finished, the whole moment was a release. It is unbelievable. I have never experienced anything like that. Even the other marathons I have run were not close to this,” said Hassan, who had competed and won the bronze in the 10,000 metres barely 37 hours before stepping onto contest the marathon title. She had finished third in the 5000m on the opening day.
“I have no words. Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5000m and 10,000m. I was telling myself if I hadn’t done that, I would feel great today,” Hassan said. But she added that once past the 20km mark she felt she could tackle this.
