Following Sifan Hassan’s recent pledge to break new marathon records, US sprint legend Michael Johnson is among those who are eager to see what the Dutch legend will do next.
After Sifan Hassan made a commitment to run a marathon in under two minutes, American sprint star Michale Johnson thinks her perseverance will lead her to yet another amazing accomplishment.
One of the best long-distance runners, Hassan had a fantastic 2024 season, winning gold in the marathon and bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.
She demonstrated incredible energy and perseverance by winning the gold medal barely 37 hours after her 10,000-meter race. She hopes to follow in Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich’s footsteps and become the second woman in history to dive under 2:10 as the 2025 season approaches.
Chepg’entich became the first woman to achieve the feat, previously seen as impossible, when she ran 2:09:56 at last year’s Chicago Marathon, to set a new world record, after breaking Tigist Assefa’s mark of 2:11:53 set in Berlin in 2023.
“Maybe it takes me longer to work hard to achieve it [the sub 2:10 marathon],” Hassan said in a recent interview with Athletics Weekly. “But Ruth Chepng’etich [the reigning world record holder] has shown me it’s possible.”
It is that assurance that makes Johnson, a former world record holder, believe that Hassan could be the next to make marathon history given her determination and ability to take on and succeed in various challenges.
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