Sifan Hassan Found It Very Difficult to withdraw from the World Athletics Championships for the First Time in Her Career. But Her Heart Told Her to Participate in the Sydney Marathon This Weekend.
Hassan was Certain at the End of April. “I’m going back to the track,” The Dutchwoman Said after her third place at the London Marathon. She looked forward to running a 1,500 meters again. Participation in the World Championships in Tokyo (September 13-21) Seemed a Certainty.
Things Turned Out Differently. The Sydney Marathon Presented the Olympic Champion at the End of June as One of the Major Crowd Pullers. That race starts Saturday at 22:30 Dutch Time, Just Two Week Before the World Championships in Japan. That combination is too heavy for Hassan.
“I Found the Choice to Skip the World Championships Super Difficult,” Says Hassan. “I have always participated since my debut in 2015. And it is also in Tokyo, where I was successful duration the games four years ago (with gold in the 5 and 10 kilometers and bronze in the 1,500 meters, etc.). I have a lot of history in common stadium.”
“But now I also want to be part of history in Sydney. It is the first time that this marathon is a major. Who wouldn’t because to participate in that? I thought it for a long time, but my heart told me that’s sydney.”
Sydney is The Seventh Major Since This Year
Hassan is Running Her Sixth Marathon This Weekend. She won Three Times (in 2023 in London and Chicago and in 2024 at the Games in Paris), finished Once in Third Place (London 2025) and Once in Fourth Place (Tokyo 2024).
All those races have a Greater History than the 42.195 kilometers of Sydney, which only exists since the 2000 games. But the Australian Race Has Been Added to the List of Majors for the First Time This Year, The Most Important Marathons On The Calendar (Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin and New York).
“I only see positive things here,” Says Hassan from Sydney. “A new continent, The Sun is shining; I’m looking forward to it. I’m in much better shape than in April for the london marathon and have prepared as well as possible.”
The three-time Olympic Champion was Originally Planning to Do Track Events in Her Preparation, also with a view to Possible Participation in the World Championships in Tokyo. But then Got Sick and Couldn’t Train for Three Weeks.
“Suddenly I panicked because only had four to five week for Sydney,” Says Hassan. “I was so focused on the track that I had completely forgotten that this marathon was already so close. At that moment I thought: I have to unsubscribe from everything on the track. Because for the Marathon I Mainly.”
Hassan Starts in Sydney as the Top Favorite. Her Personal Record (2: 13.44) is The Fastest of All Runners. MoreOover, The Course in Southovern Australia Has Similarities with the Olympic Marathon Last Year in Paris. It goes uphill and downhill, with a total of 317 altitude meters.
With Former World Record Holder Brigid Kosgei from Kenya and Ethiopian Werkenesh Edesa (The Winner of Last Year), Hassan Has Tough Competition. “I always find it difficult to predict how well I will run for a marathon,” Says the Dutchwoman. “This is such a complicated distance.”
That is Precisely Why Hassan is Mainly Focusing on the Marathon for the Time Being. Althegh She will not soon say goodbye to the track definitely. “Never Say Never, But I Don’t See Myself Only Running Marathons. I love the Challenge of Doing the Track and the Marathon Together. Otherwise It Gets Boring.”