'Scared' Hassan wins Olympic 5 000m
04 August 2021 | Sports
NAMPA / AFP
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan took a first, giant step in her bid for an unprecedented Olympic treble when she sprinted to gold in the 5 000m on Monday but admitted she had been "so scared".
Ethiopian-born Hassan, 28, produced a devastating final-lap sprint to time 14 minutes, 36.79 seconds.
Her victory was all the more remarkable given she had competed, and fallen, in the 1500m heats earlier in the day.
Kenya's two-time world champion Hellen Obiri claimed 5 000m silver in 14:38.36, with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay taking bronze with 14:38.87.
Any fears Hassan might have to ride out tactics designed to thwart her from east African rivals Ethiopia and Kenya came to nothing in a slow-paced race that ended with an almighty bang that perfectly suited her explosive finishing skills.
Fall, get back up
It came after Hassan used up a lot of energy in falling at the bell of her 1500m heat and clawed back a huge gap to qualify for the semi-finals.
"When I fell down and had to jump up, I felt like I was using so much energy," she said after her victory in the 5 000m.
"I couldn't believe the feelings in my legs. All the energy seemed to leave me.
"Before the race here I didn't even care.
"I was so tired. Without coffee I would never be Olympic champion. I needed all the caffeine.
"I was so scared I wasn't going to do it."
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan took a first, giant step in her bid for an unprecedented Olympic treble when she sprinted to gold in the 5 000m on Monday but admitted she had been "so scared".
Ethiopian-born Hassan, 28, produced a devastating final-lap sprint to time 14 minutes, 36.79 seconds.
Her victory was all the more remarkable given she had competed, and fallen, in the 1500m heats earlier in the day.
Kenya's two-time world champion Hellen Obiri claimed 5 000m silver in 14:38.36, with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay taking bronze with 14:38.87.
Any fears Hassan might have to ride out tactics designed to thwart her from east African rivals Ethiopia and Kenya came to nothing in a slow-paced race that ended with an almighty bang that perfectly suited her explosive finishing skills.
Fall, get back up
It came after Hassan used up a lot of energy in falling at the bell of her 1500m heat and clawed back a huge gap to qualify for the semi-finals.
"When I fell down and had to jump up, I felt like I was using so much energy," she said after her victory in the 5 000m.
"I couldn't believe the feelings in my legs. All the energy seemed to leave me.
"Before the race here I didn't even care.
"I was so tired. Without coffee I would never be Olympic champion. I needed all the caffeine.
"I was so scared I wasn't going to do it."
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