History of Sifan Hassan in Timeline

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.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

January 1993: Sifan Hassan Born

In January 1993, Sifan Hassan was born in Ethiopia.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Gabriela Szabo's Olympic win

In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Gabriela Szabo won the 5,000m, being the last non-Kenyan or Ethiopian athlete to win the event until Hassan's victory.

2002: Paula Radcliffe's 10,000m record

In 2002, Paula Radcliffe set a record for the women's 10,000 metres which Hassan later broke.

2008: Arrival in the Netherlands

In 2008, at the age of 15, Sifan Hassan arrived in the Netherlands as a refugee.

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.

November 2013: Dutch Citizenship and Competition

In November 2013, Hassan became a Dutch citizen, which was too late to compete at the 2013 World Championships.

2013: Dutch Citizenship

In 2013, Sifan Hassan became a Dutch citizen.

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: Almaz Ayana's 10,000m record

In 2016, Almaz Ayana set a 10,000m world record, which Hassan later broke.

2016: World Indoor Championships Gold in 1500m

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

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.

October 2019: Salazar's Ban from Athletics

In October 2019, Alberto Salazar began serving a four-year ban from athletics for doping violations, but court rulings found no evidence of any effect on athletes at the elite level within the Nike Oregon Project.

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.

2021: Departure of Training Partner

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

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.

December 2024: World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year

In December 2024, Hassan was named World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Dutchwoman to win the award.

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.