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Sifan Hassan MVP

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By Clay Shaw
All Photography Courtesy of Michael Scott

Paris, France, August 11, 2024, 33rd Olympic Games—Sifan Hassan of Netherlands, who had won bronze in both the 5000-meter and 10000-meter track races, won gold in the marathon in 2:22:55.  Hassan set a new Olympic Marathon Record.  It came down to an all-out, elbow flying sprint with world record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, who was second in 2:22:58.  Hellen Obiri of Kenya earned the bronze in 2:23:10. Sifan Hassan, you are the MVP of distance running at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Hassan was born and raised in Ethiopia and fled to the Netherlands as a 15-year-old refugee.  She wore a hijab to accept her gold medal at the Closing Ceremony; interesting, since France banned its own athletes from wearing the headscarf. 

It was 67 degrees at the start of the Olympic Marathon at the Hotel de Ville.  Sunday was five degrees warmer than the men’s marathon on Saturday.  Meldoy Julien of France led the group through 10k.

A big group went through the half-marathon in 1:13:22; twenty athletes were in the mix, including Dakotah Lindwurm of Minnesota.  As the runners turned at the Chateau de Versailles, it was an unforgettable moment, as Dakotah was leading the Olympic Marathon!  She was joined by Lonah Salpeter of Israel and Sardana Trofimova of Kyrgyzstan.  Lindwurm would finish twelfth in 2:26:44. She ran a negative split and was pleased to be the top USA athlete.  (Later in the day, in her words, Dakotah also became a fiancée.)

Salpeter was ninth in 2:26:08.  Trofimova set a national record with a 2:26:47, placing 14th.  Tokyo (Sapporo) champion Peres Jepchirchir was 15th in 2:26:51. American record holder Emily Sisson was 23rd in 2:29:53.  Fiona O’Keeffe, who won the Orlando Olympic Marathon Trials, sadly had to drop out shortly after the start with hip pain. O’Keeffe posted a heartfelt statement on Instagram Monday. 

As the race passed the Eiffel Tower, five women were in the front at 40km.  As mentioned, it came down to an all-out sprint between Hassan and Assefa.  Hellen Obiri, who won both Boston and New York Marathons in 2023, and repeated as Boston champ in 2024, was third in 2:23:10.  Sharon Lokedi of Kenya, the 2022 New York City Marathon champ was fourth in 2:23:14, and like Tola, she was added to her Kenyan team late.  Amane Beriso Shankule of Ethiopia, the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships winner, was fifth in 2:23:57. 

80 women finished the Olympic Marathon. The final finish was Kinzang Lhamo of Bhutan in 3:52:59. She drew the love of the Paris crowds for her effort.  She was Bhutan’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony.

Full Results

Top Finishers

  1. 2:22:55 Sifan Hassan, Netherlands
  2. 2:22:58 Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia
  3. 2:23:10 Hellen Obiri, Kenya
  4. 2:23:14 Sharon Lokedi, Kenya
  5. 2:23:57 Amane Beriso Shankule, Ethiopia
  6. 2:24:02 Yuka Suzuki, Japan
  7. 2:24:56 Delvine Meringor, Romania
  8. 2:26:01 Stella Chesang, Uganda
  9. 2:26:08 Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israel
  10. 2:26:10 Eunice Chebichii Chumba, Bahrain
  11. 2:26:30 Fatima Gardadi, Morocco
  12. 2:26:44 Dakotah Lindwurm, United States
  13. 2:26:45 Jessica Stenson, Australia
  14. 2:26:47 Sardana Trofimova, Kyrgyzstan
  15. 2:26:51 Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya
  16. 2:28:10 Fabienne Schlumpf, Switzerland
  17. 2:28:35 Majida Maayouf, Spain
  18. 2:29:01 Thalia Valdivia, Peru
  19. 2:29:03 Hanne Verbruggen, Belgium
  20. 2:29:20 Mekdes Woldu, France
Full striding athletes sprinting for the medals. Sharon Lokedi, Hellen Obiri of Kenya, and Amane Beriso Shankule of Ethiopia charge ahead with Tigest Assefa of Ethiopia (hidden), and Sifan Hassan of Netherlands covering every move. Fans need cycles to keep up on the sidelines. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
After winning bronze in both the 5000 and 10000 meter track races, Sifan Hassan of Netherlands remains patient before unleashing her winning kick. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
At 40k there were five women in the lead pack. Sharon Lokedi and Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Amane Beriso Shankule of Ethiopia led the way. Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and Sifan Hassan of Netherlands remain patient. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Fionnuala McCormack of Ireland runs with Luz Mery Rojas and Gladys Tejeda, both of Peru, near the 5k of the Paris Olympic Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Hellen Obiri of Kenya sports the high-tech cooling headband as she races through the 5k with a huge pack. Malindi Elmore of Canada, Mao Ichiyama of Japan, and Melet Kejeta of Germany are also in the mix. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Early action in Central Paris with Julia Mayer of Germany, Tereza Hrochova of Czech Republic, and Melody Julien of France sharing the lead. On the left are Munkhzaya Bayartsogt of Mongolia and Clementine Mukandanga of Rwanda. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel was ninth in 2:26:08. Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain was tenth in 2:26:10. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Dakotah Lindwurm of Minnesota, USA was the top American and 12th overall in 2:26:44. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Jessica Stenson of Australia was 13th in 2:26:45. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Emily Sisson of the USA was 23rd in 2:29:53. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Fionnuala McCormack of Ireland was 28th in 2:30:12. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Zhanna Mamazhanova of Kazakhstan was 33rd in 2:30:51. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Irvette Van Zyl of South Africa was 37th in 2:31:14. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Laura Hottenrott of Germany in action early in the Paris Olympic Marathon would place 38th in 2:31:19. Ace photographer Victor Sailer is on the back of an official motorcycle. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Marie Perrier of Mauritius was 54th in 2:34:56. Perrier was the first female athlete from Mauritius to obtain direct qualification to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 after running 2:26:19 in Valencia 2023. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Susana Santos of Portugal gets fan support as she finishes the Paris Olympic Marathon in 2:35:57 in 57th place. (Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
Camille French of New Zealand was 60th in 2:37:21.(Photo courtesy of Michael Scott)
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