Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sifan Hassan

How Sifan Hassan built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Sifan Hassan is a celebrated Dutch middle- and long-distance runner, known for her exceptional versatility and championship performances across various distances. She made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races, and a bronze in the 1,500m, becoming the only athlete to win medals across a middle-distance and both long-distance events in a single Olympics. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she secured bronze medals in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m and gold in the marathon, making her the only woman to achieve Olympic gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon events.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

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 3000 m Wins

In 2012, Sifan Hassan won the Sylvestercross and Mol Lotto Cross Cup races, as well as the 3000 m at the Leiden Gouden Spike meet.

November 2013: Dutch Citizenship and European Cross Country Championships

In November 2013, Sifan Hassan became a Dutch citizen but missed the World Championships. She competed for the Netherlands at the 2013 European Cross Country Championships, winning gold in the under-23 category and helped the Dutch team to third in the rankings.

2013: Breakthrough Season

In 2013, Sifan Hassan had her breakthrough season, achieving an 800 metres best of 2:00.86 minutes at the KBC Night of Athletics, and winning in the 1500 m at the Nijmegen Global Athletics and Golden Spike Ostrava meets. She was also runner-up in the 1500 m at Athletissima and third at the DN Galan 3000 m, ranking her the fourth-fastest runner that year.

2014: Achievements in 2014

In 2014, Sifan Hassan achieved a world-leading time of 8:45.32 minutes for the 3000 m at the Weltklasse in Karlsruhe and broke the Dutch indoor record in the 1500 m at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix. She won the 1500 m at the Paris Diamond League and the Glasgow Grand Prix. At the 2014 European Championships, Hassan won gold in the 1500 m and silver in the 5000 m and won at the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup.

2015: World Athletics Championships Bronze Medal

In 2015, Sifan Hassan won a bronze medal in the 1500 m at the World Athletics Championships.

2015: European Indoor Athletics Championships Gold

In 2015, Sifan Hassan won gold in the 1500 m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague. She set a new 1500 m national record at the Monaco Diamond League. She also won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and gold in the senior race at the European Cross Country Championships.

2016: Search for New Coaching Options

At the end of 2016, Sifan Hassan decided to search for other coaching options after injuries hampered her buildup to the Rio Olympics, after working with Dutch national coach Honore Hoedt.

2016: World Indoor Championships Gold Medal

In 2016, Sifan Hassan won gold at 1500 m at the World Indoor Championships.

2017: World Athletics Championships

At the 2017 World Athletics Championships, Sifan Hassan finished fifth in the 1500 m and won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres event.

2017: Coached by Alberto Salazar

Beginning in 2017, Sifan Hassan moved to the United States to be coached by Alberto Salazar at the Nike Oregon Project.

2017: World Athletics Championships Bronze Medal

In 2017, Sifan Hassan won a bronze medal in the 5000 m at the World Athletics Championships, and also finished fifth in the 1,500 m.

July 2018: Tim Rowberry Hired as Coach

In July 2018, the Nike Oregon Project hired Tim Rowberry as a coach, primarily to oversee the training of Sifan Hassan and Yomif Kejelcha, with Alberto Salazar remaining the head coach.

2018: European Championships Gold

At the 2018 European Championships, Sifan Hassan won a gold medal in the 5000 m with a time of 14:46:12, setting a new championships record.

2018: World Indoor Championships Medals

In 2018, Sifan Hassan secured a silver medal in the 3000 m and a bronze medal in the 1500 m at the World Indoor Championships.

2018: Partnership with Rowberry

In 2018, Sifan Hassan's partnership with Tim Rowberry began, leading to new personal best times in various distances.

2018: European Record in 5000m and Millicent Fawcett Mile win

On July 13, 2018, Sifan Hassan broke the European record for 5000 metres at the Rabat Diamond League. A few days later, Hassan won the first Millicent Fawcett Mile at the 2018 London Anniversary Games.

July 2019: World Record for One Mile

From July 2019 to July 2023, Sifan Hassan held the world record for the one mile on the track.

2019: Diamond League Champion

In 2019, Sifan Hassan was the double Diamond League champion, winning both the 1500 and 5000 metres Trophies.

2019: World Athletics Championships Titles

In 2019, Sifan Hassan won the 1,500 m and 10,000 m titles at the World Athletics Championships, becoming the only athlete to win both events at a single World Championships or Olympic Games.

2019: World Champion in 10,000 metres and 1,500 metres

On 28 September 2019, Sifan Hassan became the World Champion in the 10,000 metres and also won the 1500 metres race.

September 2020: One hour run world record

On 4 September 2020, Sifan 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, Sifan Hassan won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, and bronze in the 1500 metres, becoming the only athlete to ever medal in these events at the same Olympics.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Triple Win

In 2020, at the Tokyo Olympics, Sifan Hassan achieved an unprecedented triple, winning gold medals in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres, as well as a bronze medal in the 1,500 metres.

2020: World Record Holder

Since 2020, Sifan Hassan has been the world record holder for the one-hour run.

June 2021: World Record at 10,000 m

In June 2021, Sifan Hassan held a world record at 10,000 m for two days.

June 2021: World Record and Diamond League Win

On June 6, 2021, Sifan Hassan set a world record of 29:06.82 in the 10,000m in Hengelo, which she lost two days later. On 10 June, Hassan won the 1500 metres at the Rome Diamond League.

2021: Yomif Kejelcha's Departure

In 2021, Yomif Kejelcha, Sifan Hassan's training partner, departed to Adidas.

2023: World Championships

At the 2023 World Championships, Hassan stumbled and fell in the 10,000 metres, finishing 11th, but came back to win bronze in the 1500 metres and silver in the 5000 metres.