Of all the ways to get hurt, a treadmill is a particularly cruel one. No terrain, no weather, no rivals — just you, a belt, and apparently enough risk to sideline the greatest marathon runner on the planet.
Sifan Hassan, the reigning Olympic marathon champion, announced Monday she’s withdrawing from the 2026 TCS London Marathon due to an Achilles injury picked up during a treadmill training session six weeks ago. The 33-year-old Dutchwoman had hoped to shake it off in time for the April 26 race, but as her preparation intensified, it became clear that wasn’t happening.
“No London Marathon for me,” Hassan wrote on Instagram. “I am disappointed because this race means so much to me, but right now my Achilles is holding me back, and I’m not ready to be at my best.”
In a statement to race organisers, she was equally candid. “It is also the highest-quality marathon on the planet, and to compete at that level, you need to be in perfect condition. After the incident, I hoped the injury would settle, but as training progressed, it became clear that I wasn’t able to prepare at the level I expect from myself. I have to listen to my body and focus on recovering properly.”
For anyone who knows Hassan’s standards, “the level I expect from myself” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
What those standards look like
Hassan only made her marathon debut three years ago — in London — winning in 2:18:33. She then ran 2:13:44 in Chicago less than six months later. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won marathon gold while also medalling in the 5,000m and 10,000m, adding to the two track golds she took home from Tokyo. She placed third in London last year and won Sydney in 2025.
In short: she doesn’t really do mediocre.
If you’ve been following the sport, you’ll know Hassan has become one of its most compelling storylines. Injuries like this are a reminder that even the best in the world aren’t immune to the physical demands of elite marathon training. The Achilles tendon is notoriously unforgiving — it’s one of the most common running injuries, and at elite training loads, it can deteriorate fast if pushed too hard.
The race goes on
The good news for spectators is that London’s women’s field doesn’t exactly fall apart without her. Tigst Assefa returns to defend her title, 2024 winner Peres Jepchirchir is in the mix, and the start list also includes Joyciline Jepkosgei, Hellen Obiri — who has won Boston and New York twice each — and Uruguay’s Julia Paternain.
Hassan, for her part, is already looking ahead. “I look forward to returning to race in London again on plenty more occasions in the future,” she said.
Given her track record, that’s less of a consolation and more of a warning. The road back from an Achilles injury takes patience — but if anyone has shown the ability to return stronger, it’s Hassan. The 2026 TCS London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 26.
