For the first time in over two decades, a Swede crossed the Göteborgsvarvet finish line first. But the celebration was almost immediately tangled in protest, accusations, and what became one of the most dramatic and contentious endings in the race’s 45-year history.
Suldan Hassan, 25, claimed victory in the 2025 edition of Sweden’s iconic half marathon after a photo-finish sprint against Norway’s Sondre Nordstad Moen.
But the win didn’t come easily—or quietly.
Moen crossed the line just six-hundredths of a second ahead of Hassan, but was disqualified after officials ruled he obstructed Hassan in the final meters by extending his arm and preventing the Swede from passing freely.
The decision handed Hassan the win with an official time of 1:03:39, making him the first Swedish man to win Göteborgsvarvet since 2004.
Hassan, who’s known more for his smooth track finishes than road racing, tried to take the high road after the dust settled.
“It felt like it was a bit deliberate that he stopped me,” he said following the race, “but despite that, it felt like I was passing by.” He explained he’d tried to overtake twice—once with 250 meters to go, and again in the final sprint—but was forced wide as Moen drifted from lane one to lane five.
“That’s not how it should be,” he said.
Moen, a seasoned marathoner and former European record holder, was visibly furious in the aftermath.
“I win by six hundredths but they get me washed out to get a Swedish victory,” he told reporters, claiming bias from the race jury. “There are three Swedish judges. I am Norwegian. They have been thirsty for victory among the Swedes and have not won for many, many years.”
He called the decision “amateurish,” and criticized officials for not informing him sooner about the disqualification.
But race director Eva-Lena Frick defended the call, saying nationality had nothing to do with the outcome.
“Fair play applies and you have to respect that,” she said. “If you don’t, then you will be disqualified.” She confirmed that Moen had finished fractionally ahead but was stripped of the win due to his interference during the sprint.
While the jury’s ruling followed World Athletics guidelines—Rule 163.2 prohibits obstructing or jostling another competitor—the situation was anything but straightforward.
As is often the case in close-contact sprints, intention is hard to determine, and officials had to rely on finish-line video and their own judgment.
Moen insisted the arm movement was celebratory rather than obstructive. “I think I raised my hands for the victory,” he said, though he conceded Hassan had more momentum in the final five meters.
Still, the damage was done. While Hassan’s win made headlines for being historic, it also became a flashpoint in the long-running (and often friendly) rivalry between Swedish and Norwegian endurance athletes.
Amid the controversy, another Norwegian delivered a flawless race.
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, the clear favorite on the women’s side, lived up to expectations by cruising to victory in 1:08:33. There was no ambiguity in her win—just a dominant performance from one of Europe’s most consistent distance stars.
For Hassan, the win was deeply personal. Born in Somalia and raised in Gothenburg, he’s been rising steadily through the track ranks and now adds a major road title to his resume. “I’ve been both an official and a pacer at this race,” he said. “To finally win it myself feels absolutely fantastic.”
Whether the controversy fades or lingers, Hassan, at least, hopes the focus returns to the running itself. “It was a hard race,” he said, “but I gave everything I had.”
