Two-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan qualified for the 1,500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after falling the previous evening while competing for gold in the 10,000m.
The Dutch athlete clocked her season’s best of 3:55.48 min in her semi-final heat, won by the 1,500m and 5,000m world record holder Faith Kipyegon (Kenya).
The race came less than 24 hours after Sifan Hassan fell on the final stretch of the 10,000m while battling for gold with Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia).
“I had a lot of pain this morning, my knee, my elbow and everything hurt, even my head”, said Sifan Hassan after the semi-final, running with her her right knee taped. Asked what to expect in Tuesday’s final, she said: “I don’t know. It’s tough mentally after the fall”.
Saturday’s accident ended her bid for an unprecedented triple title in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m after she won medals in all three at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – two golds and a bronze.
She still has a chance at 1,500m and 5,000m but will find it difficult to get the better of Faith Kipyegon who looks unbeatable.
“It’s really hard. I’m very disappointed. It’s a sport, these things happen. I just had a bad moment. I felt really strong and I tried to push in the last lap. I think I was pushed by the Ethiopian”, commented Sifan Hassan.
The Dutch athlete, who also won the London Marathon on her debut at the distance in April, said she had no regrets about competing in three events again.
“I really enjoy what I do. I always want to try running multiple distances”, said Sifan Hassan.
