DPA
Paris
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan is ready for "a kind of hell” when she plans to run the Olympic marathon through the streets of Paris on Sunday, some 35 hours after getting 10,000 metres bronze in the Stade de France.
Hassan likes a challenge as she has a history of doubling or even tripling up at major events.
She got 5,000m and 10,000m gold as well as 1,500m bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games, a 1,500m and 10,000m double at the 2019 worlds, plus 5,000m silver and 1,500m bronze in 2023 where she missed a possible 10,000m gold by falling close to the finish line. But she is taking it to a new level in Paris because she has dropped the 1,500m to attempt the 42.195km marathon instead.
The task comes 72 years after Czech legend Emil Zatopek famously won gold over 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon at the 1952 Games in Helsinki. Zatopek ran the marathon seven days after the 10,000m and three after the 5,000m.
Hassan won’t manage similar success but enters the race with bronze medals over 5,000m on Monday and 10,000m Friday.
Hassan has previously won the major city marathons in London and Chicago and is second on the all-time list. But she had no track events immediately before them.
"I really hope to go. I’ve done in my life, the 800m, the 1500m, 10,000m, everything,” she said after the 10,000m.
"But endurance on Sunday, that’s not a joke. To finish the marathon is a kind of hell. It’s not easy. The real one will start Sunday.”
After the 5,000m on Monday she said: "It’s my crazy thing, I just want to complete it. I know people have done this before, but not in the 10,000m and marathon. I’m very curious. Could I podium? Could I even complete (the races)? I’m trying to fight with myself. What can I do after the 10,000m? Am I strong enough to keep the pace?”
"This is a huge thing to me. I’ve given myself a very hard challenge. This year, I focused on my diet. I focused on if it is possible. To just reduce my stress. I’m really under pressure.”
The Paris course which runs to the Palace of Versailles and back into the heart of the city is tough because it has more uphill sections than other big races, and it features the world record holder in Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia.
But Hassan could be boosted by her track results despite missing a gold at the Stade de France. "I’m very grateful. This is fantastic. This year, I’ve really worked hard, more than ever. Now, I think I work so hard, I was really thinking about the marathon. I was overtraining,” she said.
I’m really thankful that I recovered well. This race was amazing. I did amazing. I pushed myself but I was a little bit slow. They were better than me, but I’m really grateful to get another Olympic medal.”