The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan deployed her famous late kick to tremendous effect, winning gold in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Hassan battled with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and managed to shake her in the last straight, crossing the finish line in an Olympic record time of 2hr 22min 55 sec. The sensational gold medal completes a remarkable Games for Hassan, who also won a bronze medal in the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the Stade de France.
Assefa, three seconds behind Hassan, took silver and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri claimed the bronze 15 seconds further back.
The race had been impossible to call with all the favourites among a leading pack up until the last 10km. Defending champion Peres Jepchirchir then dropped back as Assefa ploughed ahead with a handful of challengers, Hassan hanging on to the back of the pack in much the same way she does on the track, biding her time before pouncing.
She delivered her devastating turn of pace on the last turn, sneaking past Assefa on the inside and briefly knocking elbows with the Ethiopian, who tried to rally but could not catch up.
Hassan’s victory capped a gruelling Olympics schedule as the 31-year-old became the first athlete to medal in all three distance events at a single Games since Czech Emil Zatopek achieved the feat in 1952. Hassan had initially signed up for the 1,500 metres as well before deciding three events would be enough of a challenge.
Before Sunday’s race, Hassan had said that finishing the marathon is “a kind of hell” and she collapsed after the finish line before picking herself up, beaming as the crowd cheered.
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