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Sifan Hassan shocked an elite marathon field to win the 2023 London Marathon. She is now classified as the athlete with the biggest range in athletics history.
In her first-ever marathon race, double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan stunned the deepest women's marathon field in history to win the London Marathon in 2:18:34.
Hassan stopped twice in the first hour during mile 12 to stretch her quad/hip and trailed by 12 seconds at 20km, but made a huge comeback in a sprint finish for the needed victory.
Hassan's race breakdown
The Dutch middle and long-distance runner started to drop off from the lead pack during mile 7 with a 2:17 pace at that moment.
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But she rejoined them and during mile 12, Hassan pulled over to the side and stopped twice to stretch her left quad. Now running in obvious pain and with more than half of the race to go, Hassan bravely battled on a 2:17:19 pace, though the leading pack of eight women at 68:29 pace.
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Still trailing the pack at 20km, Hassan improved her speed rapidly and at 30km, Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) stepped up in a big surge ahead of the remaining pack, all appearing to be tiring out.
Hassan joined in fifth at 35km, having Jepchirchir still leading the race and Alemu Megertu (Ethiopia), Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia), and Shelia Chepkirui (Kenya) all ahead.
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With the leaders now tiring out, running at 5:19 for mile 21, 5:22 for mile 22, and 5:23 for mile 23, Hassan finally caught up with them.
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In the final home stretch, Hassan sprinted down the finish line, completing one of the greatest comebacks in marathon history.
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Hassan's range as an athlete
With her victory at the London Marathon, Hassan is said to have the best range as an athlete in history.
Here's a look at her career achievements
- 800m - 1:56.81 Personal Best
- 1500m - World Champion in 2019
- Mile - World Record
- 3000m - European Record
- 5000m - Olympic Champion
- 10,000m - Olympic Champion
- Half-marathon - European Record
- Marathon - London Champion
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