Two years after an unforgettable debut at the London Marathon, where Sifan Hassan won despite stopping twice to stretch her hip, the Dutch runner is returning to the race with high hopes. The 32-year-old, who clinched the Olympic marathon gold in Paris last August, will headline the field, joining four other Olympic and Paralympic marathon champions for the 27 April event.
Reflecting on her initial fears of the marathon, Hassan admitted that she was unsure about her ability to finish or whether the experience would be painful, but now, after a period of rest and recovery, she is eager to enjoy the race this time around.
After her victory in Paris, where she secured the marathon gold, Hassan took one of the longest breaks of her career, disconnecting from running to reconnect with family and friends. This time away from the sport allowed her to recharge fully, and she is now more motivated than ever to return to competitive running.
Despite her impressive achievements, including multiple Olympic medals, she remains driven by curiosity and numerous personal goals. Hassan is considering focusing on the marathon for an entire season leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the ambition of running four major marathons that year.
Hassan also sees the world marathon record as a potential target, despite Ruth Chepngetich's stunning performance in October, where the Kenyan runner set a new record of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon.
Hassan expressed admiration for Chepngetich's achievement, acknowledging how unexpected such a time was for a female runner. However, she believes that with the right training and dedication, breaking the record could be within her reach, aiming to first achieve a 2:11 time, then work towards the 2:10 mark, and ultimately challenge the current world record.
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