London: She won an unprecedented three medals – two gold, one bronze – at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and is the only athlete in Olympic history to medal in both middle and long-distance events. But Dutch star Sifan Hassan still has a big new challenge ahead – announcing today that she will debut over 26.2 miles at the London Marathon, in one of the best fields ever assembled.

‘I am considering my plans for next year’s Paris Olympic Games with both the track and marathon options for me,’ explained Hassan. ‘However, before I can make a final decision on which direction to go, I need to test myself over the marathon distance and I believe the best place for me to do that is in London with the best female marathon athletes around me. It will be a step into the unknown in many ways for me but I’m looking forward to it.’

While Hassan’s speed – she’s broken world records and still holds five European records, from 1500m to half marathon – is undeniable, she certainly faces a tough test if she is to add a new title to her resume. The women’s field also contains defending champion, Ethiopian star Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who took Hassan’s world record in the 10k road race, and has the second fastest half marathon time ever.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 03 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.