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Sifan Hassan was mentally unsettled heading into the Paris Olympics marathon but she navigated through the challenging course to secure gold for the Netherlands
Paris Olympics marathon champion Sifan Hassan has opened up on the psychological disturbance she faced prior to her winning the marathon in the French capital.
The Dutchwoman who also clinched bronze in 5000m and 10000m said she was bereft of confidence and doubted her ability to win the marathon going by her bronze medal acquisition.
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11:00 - 03.12.2024
'It’s not only me' - Speechless Sifan Hassan reveals crazy 2024 after being crowned Women’s World Athlete of the Year
The Dutchwoman added another title to her trophy cabinet as her stellar career takes shape.
The Paris marathon was the fourth career marathon for the 31-year-old who also raced in the Tokyo marathon this year as well as the London and Chicago marathons in 2023.
“My first three marathons were all different and for the Olympic marathon, I was really fighting myself. One side of me said: 'concentrate on the marathon', the other side said: 'better that you do the track'. I was really struggling with myself. I didn’t have confidence I was going to win after the track," Hassan told World Athletics.
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17:17 - 05.12.2024
'Drama follows me' - Sifan Hassan reveals how she outsprinted Hellen Obiri and Tigist Assefa to claim marathon gold in Paris
Sifan Hassan had doubts heading into the marathon and the challenges she faced spurred her to victory.
Athletes are already gearing up for the 2025 season with the World Championships in Tokyo highlighting 2025. Having already ran four marathons, the Tokyo Olympics 10000m champion reckons that she is curious to combine both track and road again next year and is curious to see the outcome.
"But I think I’m going to do the track and road again, because I just want to do those things, a combination of track and road close to each other. Because I am very curious," she said.
Hassan is a three-time Diamond League champion. She also claimed gold in 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics and is the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals across a middle-distance event and both long-distance races in a single Games.
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