Sifan Hassan had already tempered expectations for the Tokyo marathon, the third in her career. A spot on the podium, that would be nice. But win like she did in London and Chicago last year? That didn’t seem likely to her.
For a long time she was able to compete with the three best women in the Japanese capital. Until she missed the drinks station at kilometer 25, turned back and then found herself in a gap. “I tried to close the gap, but I couldn’t.” She finished fourth, in 2.18.05, behind the surprise winner Sutume Asefa Kebede.
The Ethiopian, 15th in Chicago last year, triumphed in 2.15.55, a new course record. Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru came second in 2.16.14 and reigning world champion Amane Beriso of Ethiopia finished third in 2.16.58.
This is her form right now, she explains. It’s not great, it’s not bad either. She took two months of rest after the last outdoor season and has only been training again for two months. Then you shouldn’t expect too much. “My mother always said that: you pick what you plant.”
Over by author
Erik van Lakerveld has been writing about Olympic sports such as skating, athletics and rowing since 2016.
Journey of discovery
She still sees the marathons as a journey of discovery. She learned in London that she can handle the 42,195 meters well. She learned in Chicago, where she ran the second fastest time ever, that she can completely break down at the end. And what was the lesson in Japan? That Eliud Kipchoge is right. ‘He said to me before that every marathon is different. That’s what I thought during this match: this is what Eliud said.’
She is satisfied, she pushed herself for two hours without breaking down. “I felt better at the end than I did at the beginning.” It was encouraging that she ran roughly the same pace as the leader in the last kilometers. ‘But then the gap was already too big.’
Paris
She starts her preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris with confidence. She doesn’t know yet what she will do there, the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters or marathon. She will weigh her chances. “I’m going to do whatever I can to get a medal for the Netherlands,” she says. “And for myself.”
Before she closes the laptop again in Tokyo, there is something she would like to say. Not about themselves, but about the results in Glasgow. ‘We as the Netherlands have a world record and gold.’ She beams when she says it. Hassan looked on social media before the digital conversation and saw Femke Bol’s victory and Lieke Klaver’s silver. She gives a kiss on the webcam. ‘Congratulations to Femke and Lieke.’