Last summer in Tokyo, Hassan became the first athlete to combine the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters at an Olympic Games. She completed that unique trilogy with three medals: gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters and bronze in the 1500 meters. Hassan already said after her last race in Tokyo that she wants to run a marathon.
After the Sportgala in Haarlem, where Hassan was missing from the hall due to a positive corona test, the athlete revealed in a video conversation that she dreams of marathon gold at the Games. “We have already won silver with Abdi Nageeye. I now want to win gold in the marathon. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we, as a small country, beat all Africans in the marathon? I like challenges. The marathon is a big distance, I really want to run it.”
Sifan Hassan proudly displays her three Olympic medals.
ⓒ HH/ANP
Next year, Hassan will focus on the World Championships in the American city of Eugene, where she wants to harvest medals again on the track. Her first race over 42.195 kilometers must then take place in 2023, a year before the Games. “I want to combine the track and the marathon. Last year I thought I wouldn’t be able to do 1500 meters in combination with the 5000 and 10,000 meters. But I ran all three distances in Tokyo. So I want to try this too. My dream is to do the track and marathon in Paris. Hopefully I stay healthy. If I start training for the marathon, then I know if I can do it.”
The Ethiopian-born has already proven that she can tackle a wide range of distances, from the 800 meters to the half marathon. Hassan holds, among other things, the world record in the English mile, the European records in the 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and half marathon and the world hour record.
Sifan Hassan was unable to attend the gala due to a positive corona test.
ⓒ HH/ANP
Annemiek van Vleuten
Hassan herself voted for Annemiek van Vleuten in the election of Sportswoman of the Year. Initially, the Olympic champion in the 5000 and 10,000 meters did not want to say who she had voted for. “Not on myself anyway.” After consultation with her manager, Hassan said that her vote had gone to Van Vleuten, who won gold (on the time trial) and silver (road race) in Tokyo.
Corona
The 28-year-old athlete normally lives and trains in the United States, but had come to the Netherlands especially for the Sports Gala. However, on the day of the gala, Hassan tested positive for the corona virus, so she was unable to attend the award ceremony at the Lichtfabriek in Haarlem. From the office of her management agency in Nijmegen, Hassan responded to her election with the Jaap Eden in front of her.
Sifan Hassan was the Dutch flag bearer during the closing ceremony.
ⓒ HH/ANP
“Before I flew to the Netherlands, I did a few tests that were all negative. And now I’m suddenly positive here. I don’t know why, I don’t have any complaints either”, says Hassan, who had trained in the morning. “Maybe it’s a false positive test. That’s why I’m having myself tested again on Thursday.”
Two years ago, Hassan was in the US when she was named Sportswoman of the Year. Now she had traveled to the Netherlands. “I really wanted to be in the room, even if I didn’t get this award. Winning once is already super difficult, but twice is very special. Because this prize does not only apply to athletics, but to all sports in a country. So I’m super proud of this. I hope I can inspire children with my achievements. It’s not just about becoming the best at sports, but also about healthy living. I like to make athletics popular in the Netherlands. Who knows, maybe there will be a Dutch athlete in twenty years who is even better than me.”
Sleeping, walking and eating
After her unique trilogy at the Games, with bronze in the 1500 meters and gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, Hassan says she has done “almost nothing” for three months. “Sleeping alone, walking and eating with friends. Now I’m motivated again. I miss athletics, I miss training.” As soon as Hassan is out of quarantine, she will go to Namibia to train there. “Because it’s a bit cold here, the weather is nice there. I will then prepare for next year’s World Cup in America.”