Sifan Hassan Claims Victory in Women’s Marathon at Paris Olympics, Narrowly Beating Tigst Assefa

Sifan Hassan won the women’s marathon at the Paris Games, securing her third distance medal in the event on Sunday. She set an Olympic record with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds. This victory added to her bronze medals in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races, totaling more than 62 kilometers run just in the marathon. With this win, Hassan now has a total of six Olympic medals, including her victories in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and a third-place finish in the 1,500 meters at the Tokyo Games.

During the race, Hassan engaged in a physical battle with Tigst Assefa, eventually passing her along the railing to secure the win. Tigst Assefa claimed the silver, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took home the bronze. The women’s Olympic marathon broke tradition by being held on the final day of the event, rather than the men’s race.

Hassan, originally from Ethiopia and competing for the Netherlands, employed her usual strategy on the challenging 26.2-mile course, hanging back with the leaders before unleashing a powerful late-race surge that showcased her exceptional endurance and speed. Her performance in the marathon has been lauded as one of the most impressive displays in the sport.