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Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has faced skepticism following her impressive records on the track, skepticism her coach says is unwarranted.
Sifan Hassan’s remarkable athletic feats continue to inspire admiration and stir debate, but her coach, Tim Rowbury, is pushing back against the persistent doping skepticism surrounding her achievements.
The Dutch long-distance runner delivered a standout performance during the 2024 season, claiming bronze medals in the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m races before setting an Olympic record in her marathon debut to take gold with a time of 2:22:55.
Despite her achievements, her success has reignited skepticism about the natural limits of human performance.
Rowbury, speaking on a recent episode of LetsRundotcom, described such doubts as defeatist, emphasizing that success begins with the belief in what’s possible.
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11:32 - 12.11.2024
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“The mindset of thinking that people are doping is, in itself, a defeatist attitude,” Rowbury explained.
“People who immediately jump to that conclusion shut themselves out of the possibility of performing better. You wouldn’t train for something you thought was impossible.”
Rowbury pointed to Hassan’s consistent progression as proof of her integrity.
“She’s an amazing athlete with a clear trajectory. It’s not like she always has great races. After Tokyo, we took a year off, and her performance suffered. But once she reset, she found her form again. Women are breaking world records across events, and that comes down to mindset and preparation.”
For Rowbury, skepticism about top-tier performances can create barriers for aspiring athletes.
“If you don’t believe it’s possible, you’re not going to train to achieve it. Athletes who think doping explains success are shooting themselves in the foot by limiting their own potential.”
This is not the first time Hassan’s record has been questioned.
In 2019, she faced intense scrutiny after her former coach, Alberto Salazar, received a four-year doping ban shortly before she won the 1500m World Championship gold.
An emotional Hassan defended herself at the time, telling the BBC, “This was a very hard week for me, and I was just so angry. I’ve been clean all my life. I work hard.”
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06:32 - 22.10.2024
'Where's Sifan?', 'Where's Keely?'- Fans question as World Athletics announce nominees for 2024 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
Fans have expressed concerns over the exclusion of Olympic champions Sifan Hassan and Keely Hodgkinson from the World Athletics 2024 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year nominees list, which includes stars like Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Rowbury acknowledged that doubt often shadows exceptional athletes but believes Hassan’s work ethic and resilience speak for themselves.
“Her performances don’t come from shortcuts. They’re the result of months of focused preparation, targeting specific race paces and building the belief that these achievements are possible.”
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