By Amy Tennery
PARIS (Reuters) – Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan will defend her Tokyo Olympic 5,000 metres and 10,000 titles and take on the marathon in Paris, she said on Wednesday, dropping the 1,500 from her programme.
Hassan, who was initially registered to compete in all four events, sent shockwaves through the sport when she attempted an unprecedented Tokyo treble three years ago.
One of the toughest fighters on the track, Hassan fell during her opening 1,500 heat but came roaring back to advance and ultimately take bronze.
She later said that the stress of chasing the Tokyo agenda left her exhausted but was all smiles as she announced a gruelling new programme for Paris.
“I’m really curious what’s going to happen,” the Ethiopian-born runner told reporters.
The schedule will leave her with less than 48 hours between the 10,000 final and the marathon, making for an astonishingly tough assignment.
Hassan has already shown she can be a lethal force in the marathon, winning on her London debut in 2023 and later that year in Chicago, where she broke the tape in the second-fastest time ever.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Paris; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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