by Larry Eder
This is part 2 of 3 of our exclusive interview with Sifan Hassan
Sifan Hassan is one of the world’s most popular and fascinating athletes! In all of our social media for Paris 2024, Sifan Hassan was the most popular global athlete from Paris 2024!
Sifan has always raced across the spectrum. Early in her career, she ran from 800 meters to the half marathon to cross country. In December 2013, Sifan Hassan took gold in the European Athletics U 23 Cross Country champs and helped the Netherlands team take the bronze medal! That was the first time she represented her new country, the Netherlands.
Sifan held the world record in the mile from 2019 to 2023 (4:12). She also held the 10,000m world record for two days and still holds the World record for the hour run (18,930 meters is 11.7623 miles), which is brutal!
In terms of European records? Sifan Hassan holds European records at 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon!
Sifan Hassan is a tremendously talented athlete who works hard, laughs, and races with abandon. On RunBlogRun’s global audience, she is one of our most popular, judging by social media response, and the article reads.
Personally, her European record at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago marathon, the current European record, of 2:13.44 is quite impressive, but her one hour run world record blows my mind, as she is one quarter mile from having run perfect five minute miles for one hour! Sifan’s mental strength is something to behold!
We reached out to Brett Holts at NIKE sports marketing and asked if he could help us reach Sifan Hassan. Not only did Brett Holts get it done, but the speed with which the interview came back was incredible!
We hope you enjoy these insights into Sifan Hassan, who just won bronze at the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and then gold in the marathon! Those are her fourth, fifth, and sixth Olympic medals.
Here are Questions 5-8!
Paris 2024
5. RunBlogRun: The longer the race, the better you seem to do; tell us how tough the Paris triple was?
Sifan Hassan: I was terrified but also inquisitive about what might happen. I took it one step at a time, staying grateful, resting as much as possible, and focusing on my nutrition. The 5000m was where I felt the most uncertain, but the heat gave me confidence, and I was thrilled with the result in the final. Once that was done, I could focus on the 10,000m and the marathon. I wasn’t delighted with the 10,000m; I felt I had a chance for gold, but it motivated me more for the marathon. Crossing the marathon’s finish line was like a firework in my head. I was happy to win but even more pleased to have completed my mission.
Photo: Bob Martin for London Marathon Events
©TCS London Marathon
6. RunBlogRun: Tell us about that finish in Paris in the marathon? It was like a bike race!
Sifan Hassan: With a bike, climb in the middle! (laughs) I just tried to stay focused and be careful to the finish line. In the last few meters, I kept
telling myself, “Don’t fall, don’t fall!” because you never know what might happen. I wasn’t happy with my 10,000m race a couple of days earlier, so I think that made me focus more and fight harder. The marathon was significant to me.
Miscellaneous
7. RunBlogRun: You have raced the 800m to the marathon. Do you have a favorite distance?
Sifan Hassan: I love all distances for different reasons, but I’ve really come to love the marathon.
London, England, United Kingdom
April 23, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris
Major Marathons
8. RunBlogRun: In your first marathon in London, you stopped several times, and announcers thought you were out of the race! It was so exciting to watch you race there; tell us about your first marathon?
Sifan Hassan: It was a unique experience. Before the race, my coach and I looked at the field and thought, “This might get tough, but let’s see what happens.” I was happy to catch up with the pack despite the struggles and, obviously, so pleased with the result.
London, England, United Kingdom
April 23, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris
Watch for Thursday to see part 3 of our Sifan Hassan interview!
Special thanks to Brett Holts and Simon Bairu of NIKE on this interview and of course to Sifan Hassan! Photos courtesy of Kevin Morris, London Marathon media, World Athletics and NN Running team.
