How Sifan Hassan built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Sifan Hassan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner renowned for her exceptional versatility across various distances. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she achieved an unprecedented triple, securing gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races, and a bronze in the 1,500m, making her the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals across a middle-distance event and both long-distance races in a single Games. She is also one of the only women to complete an Olympic distance double. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hassan continued her success, winning bronze medals in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m, and gold in the marathon, thus becoming the only woman to win the Olympic gold medal in the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and Marathon races.
2011: Eindhoven Half Marathon Win
In 2011, Sifan Hassan, affiliated with Eindhoven Atletiek, won the Eindhoven half marathon with a time of 77:10 minutes.
2012: Cross Country and 3000m Wins
In 2012, Sifan Hassan won two cross country races (Sylvestercross and Mol Lotto Cross Cup) and the 3000m at the Leiden Gouden Spike meet.
2013: Breakthrough Season
In the 2013 season, Hassan achieved a breakthrough, winning the 800m at the KBC Night of Athletics with a time of 2:00.86, and winning the 1500m at the Nijmegen Global Athletics and Golden Spike Ostrava meets.
2014: European Championships Gold and Silver
In 2014, Hassan won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 5000m at the European Championships.
2015: World Athletics Championships Bronze Medal
In 2015, Hassan won a bronze medal in the 1,500m at the World Athletics Championships.
2015: European Indoor Athletics Championships Gold
In 2015, Hassan won gold in the 1500m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague.
2016: Search for New Coaching Options
At the end of 2016, Hassan decided to search for new coaching options after injuries hampered her buildup to the Rio Olympics.
2016: World Indoor Championships Gold in 1500m
In 2016, Hassan won gold in the 1500m at the World Indoor Championships.
2016: World Indoor Championships Gold Medal
In 2016, Sifan Hassan won a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in the 1,500m.
November 2017: 5 km road race world record event
Since 1 November 2017, the 5 km road race has been a world record event.
2017: Move to the United States for Coaching
Beginning in 2017, Hassan moved to the United States to be coached by Alberto Salazar at the Nike Oregon Project.
2017: World Athletics Championships
In 2017, Sifan finished fifth in the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships and won a bronze medal in the 5000 metres event.
2017: World Athletics Championships Bronze Medal
In 2017, she secured a bronze medal in the 5,000m at the World Athletics Championships, and finished fifth in the 1,500m.
July 2018: Nike Oregon Project Coach
In July 2018, the Nike Oregon Project hired Tim Rowberry as a coach to oversee the training of Sifan Hassan and Yomif Kejelcha, with Salazar remaining the head coach.
2018: Gold Medal at European Championships
At the 2018 European Championships, she won a gold medal in the 5000 m with the time 14:46:12, setting a new championships record.
2018: Partnership with Coach Tim Rowberry
Beginning in 2018, Sifan Hassan's partnership with coach Tim Rowberry led to new personal best times in multiple distances.
2018: World Indoor Championships Medals
In 2018, Sifan Hassan won a silver medal in the 3,000m and a bronze medal in the 1,500m at the World Indoor Championships.
2018: European Record for 5000m
On 13 July 2018, she broke the European record for 5000 metres by finishing second at the Rabat Diamond League in 14:22.34.
July 2019: World Record for One Mile
From July 2019 to July 2023, Hassan held the world record for the one mile on the track.
2019: Diamond League Champion
In 2019, Hassan was the double Diamond League champion, winning both the 1500 and 5000 metres trophies.
2019: World Athletics Championships Titles
In 2019, at the World Athletics Championships, Sifan Hassan won titles in both the 1,500m and 10,000m, making her the only athlete in history to win both events at a single World Championships or Olympic Games.
2019: World Champion in 10,000 metres and 1500 metres
On September 28, 2019, Sifan Hassan became the World Champion in the 10,000 metres in her second race for that distance. Hassan also won the 1500 metres race at the same event.
September 2020: One Hour Run World Record
On September 4, 2020, Hassan set a new world record for the rarely run One hour run completing 18,930 metres at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels.
2020: Tokyo Olympic Games Gold and Bronze Medals
At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Hassan won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, and bronze in the 1500 metres, becoming the only athlete to medal in the 1500, 5000, and 10,000 metres events at the same Olympics.
2020: Tokyo Olympics Triple Win
In 2020, at the Tokyo Olympics, Sifan Hassan achieved an unprecedented triple, winning gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, and bronze in the 1,500 metres, becoming the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals across a middle-distance event and both long-distance races in a single Games.
2020: World Record Holder
Since 2020, Hassan has been the world record holder for the one-hour run.
June 2021: World Record at 10,000m
In June 2021, Hassan held a world record at 10,000m for two days.
June 2021: 10,000m World Record
On June 6, 2021, she set a world record of 29:06.82 in Hengelo, beating Almaz Ayana's 2016 record. However, she lost the record two days later. On June 10, Hassan won the 1500 metres at the Rome Diamond League in a then world-leading time of 3:53.63.
July 2023: One Mile World Record Overtaken
In July 2023, Faith Kipyegon overtook Hassan's world record for the one mile on the track.
2023: 2023 World Championships
At the 2023 World Championships, Hassan stumbled and fell in the 10,000 metres, finishing 11th. She won bronze in the 1500 metres and silver in the 5000 metres.
2023: London Marathon Win
In 2023, Sifan Hassan won the London Marathon in her debut over the 26.2-mile distance.
2024: Bronze Medal at Paris Olympics
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hassan secured the bronze medal in the women's 5,000 metres, with a temporary upgrade to silver before being reinstated to bronze after an appeal.
2024: Paris Olympics Medals
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hassan won a bronze medal in both the women's 5,000m and 10,000m events, and a gold medal in the women's marathon, becoming the only woman to win Olympic gold in the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres, and Marathon races.