Sifan Hasan to run marathon 35 hours after winning 10,000m bronze

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands is ready for “hell” as she plans to run the Olympic marathon on the streets of Paris on Sunday, just 35 hours after she won bronze in the 10,000m at the Stade de France, DPA reported.

She loves a challenge, having won 5,000m and 10,000m gold in Tokyo, and 1,500m bronze in the Japanese capital three years ago. Hassan is also a two-time world champion in the 1,500m and 10,000m in 2019, as well as a silver medalist in the 5,000m and bronze in the 1,500m in 2023.

In Paris, Hassan gave up the 1500 meters to run the marathon.

72 years after Czech legend Emil Zatopek won gold medals in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Zatopek won the marathon gold medal seven days after the 10,000m race and three days after the 5,000m race.

Sifan Hassan’s killer show at Paris Olympics

Hassan won the London and Chicago marathons.

“I really hope they can take part. In my life I have run 800m, 1,500m, 10,000m, and so on,” she said. “But the endurance on Sunday is no joke. Finishing a marathon is like hell. It’s not easy,” the Dutch woman opined.

“That’s what makes me crazy, I want to compete,” she said after finishing the 5,000m on Monday. “I know people have done it before me, but not the 10,000m and the marathon. I’m curious, can I get on the podium? “I’m fighting myself every race, but I have enough strength to keep running.”

“It’s a big challenge. This year I’ve focused on my diet. That’s how I relieve stress. I face stress,” she admitted.

The Paris Marathon will go to Versailles and back to the city center, with more climbing than other routes. World record holder Tigest Assefa from Ethiopia will also take part.

“I am grateful, this is amazing. I have worked harder than ever this year. I am thinking about a marathon,” said Sifan Hasan.