Sifan Hassan still wins Olympic bronze instead of silver in her 5000 meters at the Paris Olympics. The 31-year-old defending champion finished third in the race in Paris, but then seemed to profit from a disqualification of number 2 Faith Kipyegon. The Kenyan successfully appealed against this, the Athletics Union confirmed on X. Kipyegon’s compatriot Beatrice Chebet took gold.
The race management initially penalized Kipyegon for obstructing the Ethiopian world record holder Gudaf Tsegay during an overtaking maneuver at the end of the race. After the race, many people, including Hassan, reacted with surprise about the disqualification of world champion Kipyegon. They thought that Tsegay was the culprit. The Ethiopian eventually finished the race in eighth place.
Hassan didn’t care much about the color of the medal. “Bronze or silver. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m incredibly grateful for this medal. I didn’t expect it,” said the Ethiopian, whose biggest goal in Paris is a podium finish in the marathon.
Fourth-placed Italian Nadia Battocletti lost her bronze medal after just under two hours.
Aiming for three medals
Hassan didn’t mince her words after the 5,000-meter final. She only wants two things at the Olympic Games. “I want to complete the task I have set myself, which is to run the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and the marathon. A medal on the track is a bonus, but that doesn’t really matter to me. I really want a medal in the marathon,” she said in the catacombs of the Stade de France after a nerve-wracking final in which she finished third.
“I must be crazy in my head, because before every race I am really nervous and I feel so much pressure that I want to go home. But then I am home and I am already thinking about the next race. I was also nervous before this final, but a medal was not in my head. I mainly wanted to reach the finish and I succeeded. The big goal now is to run the 10,000 meters and then the marathon. I am scared to death before that marathon because I know I will be in pain for two hours. But I want to finish that marathon and win a medal.”
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Hassan was inspired by Czech running legend Emil Zatopek, who even won gold in the three distances at the 1952 Helsinki Games. When she saw old videos of him years ago, the idea already settled in her head. The competition schedule in Paris seems to make the task almost impossible, with only one day of rest between the 10,000 meters and the marathon, but Hassan is determined. “It will be super tough, also mentally, and I will suffer, but I want to try.”
How much Hassan is focused on that marathon was proven by her account of her race. “Every lap I thought, can I keep up this pace in the marathon.”
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By: Editorial Staff
