The Paris Olympics marathon was touted as one of the toughest courses ever, but defending champion Sifan Hassan of Netherlands remained unfazed in her quest for history. The versatile distance runner unleashed a trademark late kick to win gold in the women's marathon on Sunday, cementing her status as one of the greatest of all time.
By winning her third medal of the Games, following bronzes in 5000m and 10000m, Hassan created history by becoming the first athlete, male or female, to win medals across 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and marathon at the same Olympics. Her latestgold medal run saw her clock an Olympic record time of 2:22:55 on the undulating course.
Hassan's journey to the top of the marathon podium wasn't without challenges. She fell behind the leading pack around the 28km mark while climbing uphill but clawed her way back quickly. In the final stretch, she tapped into her renowned sprint finish from the track to edge past world record holder Tigsat Assefa in a thrilling photo finish.
The 31-year-old's incredible versatility and championship mentality on full display. After pushing her limits in the track events earlier, she once again dug deep with her last kick. Her resilience against all odds is a testament to her relentless fighting spirit and sets new benchmarks for modern athletes.
By reigning supreme in the marathon, Hassan ensured her place among the true greats of the sport. She becomes the only woman to achieve the elusive treble of 1500m, 5000m and 10000m world titles. And now she adds a historic marathon gold to complete an astounding chapter in her illustrious career. Sifan Hassan is indeed the queen of distance running.
