Everything to know about versatile Dutch middle- and long-distance runner Sifan Hassan, charting her feats at the Olympics, recognising her ambitious drive since emigrating to Europe and exploring her wealth.
Who is Sifan Hassan?
Sifan Hassan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner celebrated for her incredible versatility and achievements in athletics.
Hassan is renowned for her ability to compete at the highest level in a wide range of distances, from the 1500 meters to the marathon. This is evidenced by her unprecedented triple at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters and bronze in the 1500 meters.
This feat made her the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals across a middle-distance event and long-distance races in a single Games.
Her dominance is not limited to the Olympics. She is a two-time World Champion, winning gold in the 1500 and 10,000m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha.
She also holds multiple European Championship titles and was the 2019 Diamond League champion in the 1500 and 5000m.
Beyond her championship victories, Hassan has demonstrated incredible speed, setting national records in various distances and consistently ranking among the world's fastest runners.
Sifan Hassan Age
Sifan Hassan is 31 years old as of October 2024. She was born on January 1, 1993.
Sifan Hassan Height
Sifan Hassan is 5 feet 7 inches tall. In metres, the athlete is 1.70m.
Where was Sifan Hassan born?
Sifan Hassan was born in Adama, Ethiopia. She later moved to the Netherlands as a refugee and became a Dutch citizen.
Sifan Hassan Country
Sifan Hassan competes for the Netherlands. While she was born in Ethiopia, a then-15-year-old Hassan moved to the Netherlands as a refugee in 2008 and became a Dutch citizen in 2013.
She has represented the European nation in international competitions ever since.
Sifan Hassan Olympics
Sifan Hassan's Olympic journey has been underscored by historic achievements and unparalleled versatility. As of 2024, she is a six-time Olympic medallist.
Hassan's first appearance in Rio de Janeiro showcased her potential. While she did not reach the podium, she gained valuable experience competing against the world's best.
She finished 5th in the 5000m final and reached the semi-finals of the 1500m, demonstrating her ability to compete across different distances. Hassan's performance in Tokyo cemented her place in Olympic history.
The Dutch athlete achieved an unprecedented triple, winning gold in the 5000m and 10,000m and bronze in the 1500m. This incredible feat made her the only athlete in Olympic history to win medals in a middle-distance event and long-distance races in a single Games.
At the Paris 2024 Games, she won a gold medal in her marathon debut — setting an Olympic record — and bronze in the 5000m and 10,000m.
She is the first woman to win an Olympic medal in the marathon, 5000 and 10,000m events.
Sifan Hassan vs Faith Kipyegon
Sifan Hassan and Faith Kipyegon are two of the most dominant figures in women's middle- and long-distance running, and their rivalry has produced some thrilling races and captivating moments on the track.
The Dutch athlete is known for her incredible versatility and ability to compete across distances, from 1500m to the marathon, while Kipyegon typically specialises in the 1500m, although she is adept in other distances.
“It’s amazing to have this rivalry with Sifan,” said Kipyegon in 2023. “I’ve been competing with her for a long time.
“She is a good friend of mine. We push each other to the limit. It’s perfect. That’s sport. She’s amazingly talented doing all the events. It’s not easy but she pushes herself to the limit.”
According to the World Athletics website, the Kenyan athlete leads Hassan 11-9 in 1500m races, leads 1-0 in for the mile distance and holds a 3-1 advantage in the 5000m.
There was some controversy at the 5000m final at the Paris Olympics, where Kipyegon’s initial disqualification saw Hassan’s bronze upgraded to silver.
However, Kenya’s successful appeal saw the initial results reinstated.
Sifan Hassan Marathon
Sifan Hassan's marathon journey is a recent but already remarkable chapter in her incredible running career.
Known for her dominance in middle and long distances on the track, she surprised many by transitioning to the marathon and did so with incredible success.
Hassan stunned the world by winning the London Marathon in 2023, a distance she had never tried. Her victory in 2:18:33 showcased her endurance and adaptability.
"It was really amazing,” Hassan said in London. “I never thought I would finish a marathon.”
She triumphed in the 2023 Chicago Marathon, setting a course record with her dominant victory in 2:13:44.
The Dutch athlete then won gold in the Paris Olympics marathon in 2024, adding to her medals in the 5,000m (bronze) and 10,000m (silver) at the same Games.
Sifan Hassan Coach
Sifan Hassan's current coach is Tim Rowberry. He is an American long-distance running coach who has worked with Hassan since 2016.
Sifan Hassan Medals
Olympics
2020 Tokyo
Gold (5000m, 10,000m), Bronze (1500m)
2024 Paris
Gold (Marathon), Bronze (5000m, 10,000m)
World Championships
2015 Beijing
Bronze (1500m)
2017 London
Bronze (1500m)
2019 Doha
Gold (1500m, 10,000m)
2023 Budapest
Silver (5000m), Bronze (1500m)
World Indoor Championships
2016 Portland
Gold (1500m)
2018 Birmingham
Silver (3000m), Bronze (1500m)
Diamond League
2015
First place (1500m)
2019
First place (1500m, 5000m)
European Championships
2014 Zurich
Gold (1500m), Silver (5000m)
2016 Amsterdam
Silver (1500m)
2018 Berlin
Gold (5000m)
European Indoor Championships
2015 Prague
Gold (1500m)
European Cross Country Championships
2013 Belgrad
Gold (U23 race, 6km)
2015 Hyeres
Gold (Senior race, 8km)
Continental Cup (Representing Europe)
2014 Marrakech
Gold (1500m)
2018 Ostrava
Gold (3000m)
World Marathon Majors
2023 London
Gold (Marathon)
2023 Chicago
Gold (Marathon)
Sifan Hassan Personal Bests
Event | Time | Venue | Date | |
800m | 1:56.81 | Monaco | 21 July 2017 | |
1500m | 3:51.95 | Doha, Qatar | 5 October 2019 | AR |
Mile | 4:12.33 | Monaco | 12 July 2019 | Former WR |
3000m | 8:18.49 | Stanford, CA, United States | 30 June 2019 | AR |
5000m | 14:22.12 | London, United Kingdom | 21 July 2019 | AR |
10,000m | 29:06.82 | Hengelo, Netherlands | 6 June 2021 | AR, Former WR |
Half marathon | 65:15 | Copenhagen, Denmark | 16 September 2018 | AR |
Marathon | 2:13:44 | Chicago, United States | 8 October 2023 | AR |
AR: Area Record
WR: World Record
Sifan Hassan Religion
Sifan Hassan is Muslim. She made a powerful statement at the 2024 Paris Olympics by wearing a hijab during the medal ceremony for the marathon.
Sifan Hassan Husband
Sifan Hassan is not publicly known to be married, thus there is no reliable information about her husband or if she has a partner.
Sifan Hassan Family
Public information about Sifan Hassan's family life is quite private, but she was raised in Ethiopia by her mother and grandmother before moving to the Netherlands alone as a refugee in 2008 at 15.
Details about her father and any siblings are not widely known.
Sifan Hassan Net Worth
Sifan Hassan's net worth is a bit of a mystery, but multiple sources place her worth between $4 million and $10 million.
This likely considers her career earnings from prize money and endorsements, with her numerous victories at the Olympics, World Championships and Diamond League events coming with substantial prize money payouts.
She also has a major endorsement deal with Nike, likely providing a significant income stream.
Sifan Hassan Social Media
Although Sifan Hassan has personal Instagram and X accounts, she is more active on the former than the latter, having not posted on X since 2021.
Hassan has 471,000 followers on Instagram (@sifanhassan) and a following of 22,200 on X (@SifanHassan) as of October 2024.