Sifan Hassan is known as one of the best middle- and long- distance runners of all time.
Hassan is an Ethiopian-born middle- and long-distance runner competing for the Netherlands who has shown incredible versatility, dominating in every distance from 1,500m on the track, all the way to the marathon.
Hassan’s career has been marked by a series of extraordinary achievements, including breaking world records and winning multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.
In this profile, we’re going to learn more about Sifan Hassan, including:
Everything You Need To Know About Sifan Hassan
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Racing Results And Records
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Hassan achieved an unprecedented feat by winning gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, along with a bronze in the 1,500m. She is the only athlete in Olympic history to medal in a middle-distance event and both long-distance races in a single Games and one of only three women to complete an Olympic distance double.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hassan earned bronze in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, and claimed gold in the marathon, making her the only woman to win Olympic gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon.
At the 2019 World Athletics Championships, Hassan made history by winning both the 1,500 meters and 10,000 meters, becoming the first and only athlete, male or female, to achieve this double at a single World Championships or Olympic Games. She previously won bronze in the 1,500 meters in 2015 and in the 5,000 meters in 2017, where she also placed fifth in the 1,500 meters.
A three-time World Indoor Championships medalist, Hassan claimed gold in the 1,500 meters in 2016 and silver in the 3,000 meters and bronze in the 1,500 meters in 2018. She has also earned six European medals, including two cross country titles, and one European indoor medal. Hassan is a three-time Diamond League winner, achieving the 1,500 meters/5,000 meters double in 2019.
In her marathon debut, she won the 2023 London Marathon. She then followed this up by winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon, running the second-fastest time by a woman in history.
Hassan has held the world record for the one-hour run since 2020. She also held the world record for the mile from July 2019 to July 2023, until Faith Kipyegon surpassed it. Additionally, she briefly held the world record for the 10,000m in June 2021. Hassan currently holds six European records (1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m, half marathon, and marathon) and three Dutch records.
Personal Bests
| Distance | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon | 08 OCT 2023 | 2:13:44 |
| Half Marathon | 16 SEP 2018 | 1:05:15 |
| 10,000m | 06 JUN 2021 | 29:06.82 |
| 5,000m | 23 JUL 2023 | 14:13.42 |
| 5K Road | 07 SEP 2022 | 14:38 |
| 3,000m | 30 JUN 2019 | 8:18.49 |
| Mile | 12 JUL 2019 | 4:12.33 |
| 1,500m | 05 OCT 2019 | 3:51.95 |
Olympic And World Medals
| Event | Medals |
|---|---|
| 2024 Paris Olympic Games | 🥇 Marathon 🥉 10,000m 🥉 5,000m |
| 2023 Budapest World Championships | 🥈 5,000m 🥉 1,500m |
| 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (Held In 2021) | 🥇 10,000m 🥇 5,000m 🥉 1,500m |
| 2019 Doha World Championships | 🥇 10,000m 🥇 1,500m |
| 2017 London World Championships | 🥉 5,000m |
| 2015 Beijing World Championships | 🥉 1,500m |
Racing Style
Hassan is unique in her ability to compete at a high level in a wide range of events, from the 1,500 meters to the marathon. Her style adapts well to both middle-distance races, where speed and tactics are crucial and long-distance events, which require endurance and pacing.
One of the most distinctive features of Hassan’s running is her powerful finishing kick. Regardless of the race distance, she has a remarkable ability to accelerate in the final stretch, often overtaking competitors in the last lap or the last few hundred meters.
Hassan is known for her smart race strategies. She often conserves energy during the early stages of a race and then makes a decisive move when it counts most.
What Was Sifan Hassan’s Breakthrough Race?
Hassan’s first big win was in 2011 when she was 18. Affiliated with Eindhoven Atletiek, Hassan entered the Eindhoven half marathon and won the race with a time of 1:17:10.
In 2013, she ran the 800 meters in 2:00.86 minutes to win at the KBC Night of Athletics and took wins in the 1500 meters at the Nijmegen Global Athletics, and Golden Spike Ostrava meets. This was when her name became well-known on the world stage of running.
Who Is Sifan Hassan’s Current Coach?
Tim Rowberry is Hassan’s current running coach, an assistant to Utah Valley cross country head coach Scott Houle.
About Sifan Hassan
How Old Is Sifan Hassan?
Sifan Hassan was born on January 1, 1993, making her 31 years old.
Where Was Sifan Hassan Born?
Hassan was born in Adama, Ethiopia, and raised in the countryside of Kersa in the Munesa district of the Arsi Zone of Oromia. She was a recreational runner there.
In 2008, at the age of 15, Hassan moved to the Netherlands as a refugee. She began running while studying to be a nurse. Hassan became a Dutch citizen in 2013.
Sifan Hassan spent her teenage years as a refugee in the Netherlands before becoming a citizen at the age of 20. Her family had moved from Ethiopia in 2008 when she was 15. With a pair of old running shoes and while living with other asylum seekers, Hassan began working hard to train and improve herself while studying nursing.
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What Is Sifan Hassan’s Height And Weight?
Sifan Hassan is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 108 pounds.
Who Is Sifan Hassan’s Spouse?
Hassan is not married.
Is Sifan Hassan Sponsored?
Yes, Hassan is sponsored by Nike.
You can see more of Sifan Hassan’s journey on her Instagram.
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