Hassan wins historic Olympic gold

Sifan Hassan won the women’s Olympic marathon after a titanic battle in the final kilometers in Paris.

Hassan, attempting an Olympic program not seen since the days of Emil Zatopek, having won bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m earlier in the Games, outkicked a stellar group including the world record holder Tigist Assefa, to win in 2:22:55, a new Olympic record.

The Dutchwoman saw off challenges from Hellen Obiri, the current Boston Marathon champion, Sharon Lokedi, who won in New York in 2022, world champion Amane Beriso Shankule and defending Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.

A cagey first half did not see the race begin to break open until they reached the toughest gradients on the course.

Hassan allowed the leaders to surge ahead, but she remained in touch as they slogged up the murderous hill at 30km and was able to reconnect on the down slope and stuck with the lead group all the way back into Paris.

Jepchirchir was unable to stick with the pace as it ramped up around the 35km mark, leaving five women to battle it out as they reached the Eiffel Tower.

Shankule was next to falter, before Obiri was unable to stay with Hassan and Assefa in the last few hundred meters.

The two women with the strongest track pedigree went elbow-to-elbow as they neared the finish and clashed on one of the final bends, Hassan claiming the inside line before injecting one final burst to break free from the Ethiopian and claim one of the most famous golds in Olympic folklore.

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