Sifan Hassan made history by claiming the final athletics gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games, winning the women’s marathon in an Olympic record time of 2:22:55. This victory completed an impressive medal treble for the Dutch athlete, who had already secured bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m events in Paris.
Impressive Finish and Competition
In a thrilling sprint finish, Hassan held off Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who took silver in 2:22:58, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who secured bronze in a personal best time of 2:23:10. Despite the challenging course and warm conditions, both Hassan and Assefa finished inside the previous Olympic record of 2:23:07.
Additional Insight: The competition between Hassan and Assefa in the marathon highlighted their exceptional talents as both world-class distance runners and sub-2 minute 800m athletes.
Record-Breaking Performance
Hassan, who already had six Olympic medals to her name, had a remarkable race strategy that allowed her to outpace Assefa in the final stages and win by just three seconds, making it the closest-winning margin in a women’s Olympic marathon. Obiri held on for bronze, while Lokedi finished fourth in a personal best time of 2:23:14.
Additional Insight: Hassan’s ability to transition from shorter distances to the marathon, while maintaining success across all disciplines, showcases her exceptional endurance and versatility as an athlete.
Historical Milestones
Hassan’s victory in the marathon marked a historic moment as she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the same Games since Emil Zatopek accomplished a similar feat in 1952. Her impressive career also includes six world medals across various distances, demonstrating her dominance in long-distance running.
Additional Insight: Hassan’s achievement of winning medals in multiple events at a single Olympics sets her apart as a versatile and exceptional athlete in the history of track and field.
Race Highlights and Personal Achievements
The women’s marathon saw intense competition throughout the race, with the lead changing multiple times. Hassan’s strategic approach and incredible performance in the final sprint secured her the gold medal and the Olympic record time.
Additional Insight: Hassan’s mental and physical strength displayed during the race, as well as her ability to adapt to challenging conditions, are a testament to her dedication and exceptional talent as a long-distance runner.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
| WOMEN’S MARATHON MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 2:22:55 OR |
| 🥈 | Tigist Assefa (ETH) | 2:22:58 |
| 🥉 | Hellen Obiri (KEN) | 2:23:10 PB |
| Full results | ||
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