Sifan Hassan promises to outrun Kenyan & Ethiopian legends until her last breath
The Dutch marathon runner has vowed to dominate her Kenyan and Ethiopian rivals aiming to race until her last breath.
Dutch distance running great Sifan Hassan has set a new gold standard in Olympic marathon running emphatically stating she plans to dominate the event for years to come.
After a stunning victory at the Paris Olympics, Hassan warned her top rivals from Kenya and Ethiopia that she is just getting started.
In one of the most grueling tests of human endurance, Hassan pulled off a historic victory in what was dubbed the toughest Olympic marathon course ever.
The race included punishing hills and an elevation surpassing those of the Boston and New York marathons.
Despite these challenges, Hassan managed to claim gold with a new Olympic record of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds, narrowly defeating world record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia by just three seconds.
“I’m really crushed.I don’t want to disappoint myself. I want to give everything. That’s what I did. It feels like a dream," she said as per Independent..
The 31-year-old Dutch athlete has now become the first woman to secure Olympic gold medals in the 1500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon across multiple games.
“Everybody else was fresh but I was telling myself, I don’t feel fresh, I don’t feel good, why didn’t you just run the marathon? From the beginning to the end, I felt uncomfortable,” Hassan explained.
Yet, her strategic focus on the marathon paid off, culminating in a breathtaking final sprint that left onlookers gasping at the idyllic gardens surrounding the golden dome of Les Invalides.
The race was not just a physical battle but also a mental one.
Hassan has been open about her fears and the immense pressure she faces each time she lines up at the starting line.
“Yes, I’m still scared of the marathon, I’ve only done four and they’re all different.You’re uncomfortable for two hours or more, and the brain wants to protect you," she added.
Hassan’s mental resilience and ability to manage her heart rate were critical in her Olympic success.
“I recover great, that’s good, but the rest is the challenge, I love the extra challenge. I like to try things out. I’m not scared... I mean, I am scared but I like to try things. Does it work or does it not? That’s what makes me better than others, I try,” Hassan said.
“I’ll still get nervous, but I’m not finished yet, I think I’ll do marathons until I die. I’m not going to stop. It’s a lot of fun,” she declared.
posted Thursday August 15th
by Festus Chuma