History of Sifan Hassan in Timeline
Sifan Hassan is a renowned Ethiopian-born Dutch middle- and long-distance runner celebrated for her exceptional versatility. She achieved an unprecedented triple victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, securing gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres and bronze in the 1,500 metres. This accomplishment marked her as the sole Olympian to win medals in middle- and long-distance events within a single Games and only the second woman to achieve an Olympic distance double.
January 1993: Birth of Sifan Hassan
Sifan Hassan was born in January 1993 in Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia.
2000: Gabriela Szabo's Victory
In 2000, Gabriela Szabo emerged victorious in the women's 5000m race at the Sydney Olympics, marking a significant moment in the sport.
2002: Paula Radcliffe's European Record in 10,000 Meters
Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe set the European record for the women's 10,000 meters in 2002.
2008: Arrival in the Netherlands as a Refugee
At the age of fifteen, Sifan Hassan arrived in the Netherlands in 2008 as a refugee from Ethiopia.
2011: Eindhoven Half Marathon Victory
Sifan Hassan won the Eindhoven half marathon in 2011 with a time of 77:10 minutes.
2012: Cross Country and Track Victories
In 2012, Sifan Hassan secured victories in cross country races such as Sylvestercross and Mol Lotto Cross Cup, and also won the 3000 meters race at the Leiden Gouden Spike meet.
November 2013: Representing the Netherlands and European Cross Country Success
After gaining Dutch citizenship, Sifan Hassan made her debut for the Netherlands in November 2013 and won the gold medal in the under-23 category at the European Cross Country Championships.
2013: Dutch Citizenship Granted
Sifan Hassan became a Dutch citizen in 2013.
2013: Breakthrough Season with Impressive Performances
Sifan Hassan had a breakthrough season in 2013, winning the 800 meters at the KBC Night of Athletics, securing victories in the 1500 meters at Nijmegen Global Athletics and Golden Spike Ostrava meets, and achieving personal bests in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at Diamond League events.
2014: World Leading Time and Dutch Indoor Record
Sifan Hassan started 2014 by setting a world-leading time in the 3000 meters at the Weltklasse in Karlsruhe and breaking the Dutch indoor record in the 1500 meters at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix.
2015: First World Championship Medal
In 2015, Sifan Hassan won her first medal at the World Athletics Championships, securing bronze in the 1,500 meters.
2015: Historic Bronze Medal at World Championships
Sifan Hassan became the second Dutch female athlete to win a World Championships medal by securing bronze in the 1500 meters in 2015.
2016: Almaz Ayana's World Record
Almaz Ayana set a world record in the women's 10,000 meters in 2016.
2016: Coaching Transition
In 2016, Sifan Hassan, after facing setbacks due to injuries during her preparation for the Rio Olympics, opted to explore new coaching possibilities, marking a pivotal point in her career.
2016: World Indoor Championship Gold
Sifan Hassan achieved gold in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 World Indoor Championships.
2016: Fifth Place Finish at Rio Olympics
Sifan Hassan competed in the 1500 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing fifth in the final.
November 2017: 5 km Road Race Becomes World Record Event
The 5 km road race was established as a world record event for women in November 2017.
2017: Medals in 1500m and 5000m at World Championships
Sifan Hassan achieved a top-five finish in the 1500 meters and a bronze medal in the 5000 meters at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
2017: Medals in 1500m and 5000m at World Championships
Sifan Hassan demonstrated her versatility at the 2017 World Athletics Championships by finishing fifth in the 1,500 meters and winning the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters.
2017: Joining the Nike Oregon Project
In 2017, Sifan Hassan made a significant move by relocating to the United States to train under the guidance of renowned coach Alberto Salazar at the prestigious Nike Oregon Project.
July 2018: New Coach at the Nike Oregon Project
In July 2018, The Nike Oregon Project brought in Tim Rowberry as a coach to work specifically with Sifan Hassan and Yomif Kejelcha, while Salazar continued to oversee all athletes in the program.
2018: Partnership with Tim Rowberry
In 2018, Sifan Hassan started working with Tim Rowberry as her coach. This collaboration proved fruitful as she went on to set personal best times in various distances, including the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon, and marathon.
2018: World Indoor Championship Medals
Sifan Hassan added to her World Indoor Championship medal haul in 2018, winning silver in the 3,000 meters and bronze in the 1,500 meters.
2018: European Record and London Anniversary Games Victory
Sifan Hassan set a new European record in the 5000 meters at the Rabat Diamond League and won the Millicent Fawcett Mile at the London Anniversary Games in 2018.
2018: European Championship Gold and Record
Sifan Hassan won the gold medal and set a new championship record in the 5000 meters at the 2018 European Championships.
July 2019: World Record in One Mile
Sifan Hassan set a new world record for the women's one mile in July 2019.
October 2019: Salazar's Ban and Its Impact
In October 2019, Alberto Salazar, Sifan Hassan's coach, was handed a four-year ban from athletics due to doping violations that predated his coaching relationship with Hassan. Despite the court rulings, there was no proof presented to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding any impact on athletes competing at the highest level within the Nike Oregon Project.
2019: Double Diamond League Champion
Sifan Hassan achieved a remarkable feat in 2019 by becoming the Diamond League champion in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters.
2019: Historic Double Gold at World Athletics Championships
Sifan Hassan achieved a historic feat in 2019 by becoming the first athlete, male or female, to win both the 1,500m and 10,000m titles at a single World Athletics Championships.
2019: World Championship Double Gold and Records
In a display of exceptional versatility, Sifan Hassan won gold medals in both the 10,000 meters and 1500 meters at the 2019 World Championships, setting new championship and European records in the 1500 meters.
2020: Unprecedented Triple Gold Victory at Tokyo Olympics
In 2020, Sifan Hassan made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the only athlete ever to win medals in a middle-distance event (bronze in 1500 meters) and both long-distance races (gold in 5,000 and 10,000 meters) in a single Olympic Games.
2020: Olympic Success in Tokyo
In 2020, Sifan Hassan made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the only athlete to medal in the 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m races in a single Olympic Games. She won gold in the 5000m and 10,000m events and secured a bronze medal in the 1500m. This achievement cemented her place as a running icon.
2020: World Record in One Hour Run
In 2020, Sifan Hassan set a world record in the women's one hour run.
June 2021: World Record in 10,000 Meters
Sifan Hassan set a new world record in the women's 10,000 meters in June 2021, surpassing the previous record set by Almaz Ayana in 2016.
June 2021: Short-Lived World Record in 10,000 Meters
Sifan Hassan set a world record in the women's 10,000 meters in June 2021, but it was broken just two days later by Letesenbet Gidey.
2021: Yomif Kejelcha's Departure
In 2021, Yomif Kejelcha, Sifan Hassan's training partner, left the group to join Adidas.
July 2023: World Record Broken by Faith Kipyegon
Faith Kipyegon surpassed Sifan Hassan's world record in the one mile in July 2023.
2023: Victory in London Marathon Debut
In her first attempt at the 26.2-mile distance, Sifan Hassan emerged victorious at the 2023 London Marathon.