Sifan Hassan: World Athlete of the Year award means the world to me

Sifan Hassan says she is honoured to be considered the best woman athlete in the world in 2024 at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.

Dutch woman won three medals at the Paris 2004 Olympics with her incredible performance capped by her winning the final athletics gold medal of the Games with her triumph in the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:22:55.

That performance came just 37 hours after Hassan claimed bronze in the 10,000m, and six days after her first medal in the French capital – also bronze – in the 5000m.

She thus became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Games, and the first athlete since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men’s titles in Helsinki in 1952.

Hassan took to X to express her delight.

‘I am so honored. Being named World Athlete of the Year among such incredible athletes, and on such a year, means the world to me.

‘Since I was young, I watched marathon runners with admiration. They made me wonder if I could run like them, or if I could even finish a marathon. I used to wonder if I could even race a 10km.

‘This year, my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Olympics. It was terrifying, and that made each finish line more meaningful. It wasn’t perfect, but sometimes happiness comes from embracing imperfections. I’m so grateful to see the journey being valued and recognized so highly.

‘This award isn’t just for me, my team, and my family. It’s for every young girl out there, watching, dreaming, and believing that she can achieve greatness through sport. To all of you, I want to say: keep exercising, keep training, keep pushing, keep believing, and always remember that no dream is too big.

‘Thank you to everyone so much!,’ she wrote.