Dutch runner Sifan Hassan has long been revered for her versatility in mid- and long-distance running, but now she is set to go the extra mile — or rather, 26.2 miles — at the Paris Olympic Games.
Hassan, 31, made history at the Tokyo Olympics in her pursuit of the triple crown on the track, winning gold in the 5000m and 10,000m and bronze in the 1500m. Three summers ago, this feat seemed improbable at best. Now, Hassan is preparing to add to this challenge by contesting the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and marathon in Paris, according to the Dutch team announcement Tuesday. This quadruple crown is unprecedented in Olympic history.
Starting her career on the track, Hassan remains the only athlete in Olympic history to have medaled in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m events at a single Games. She moved up distances for the first time last year, winning the 2023 London Marathon in dramatic fashion in her marathon debut and then running 2:13:44 — the second fastest women’s marathon in history — to win the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Hassan will face fierce competition from what is likely to be the fastest women’s field in history. Her toughest competition will likely come from Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon across the 1500m and 5000m. Kipyegon has been unstoppable on the track this year and is in phenomenal form, having just lowered her own 1500m world record at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday.
Hassan seems well-prepared for the high volume of running that awaits her. After a busy marathon training schedule, Hassan still delivered a standout performance at the most recent 2023 World Championships in Budapest, earning a bronze medal in the 1500m, silver in the 5000m and 11th place in the 10,000m after falling a few strides from the finish line and relinquishing her gold medal position.
An Ethiopian-born refugee with an uncanny ability to win races even after falling down, Hassan is known for her resiliency and tenacity inside and outside of running. However, since this quadruple crown attempt is unprecedented, many questions remain about Hassan’s ability to recover and perform at her best with such a packed race calendar.
Here’s what her Paris schedule is set to look like.
Sifan Hassan’s Paris Olympic Schedule
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sifan Hassan to run unprecedented 4 distance events at Paris Olympics
