Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut
“I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” Hassan saidHassan went on to win Olympic marathon gold last year in ParisLONDON: Sifan Hassan concedes she remembers little about her remarkable marathon debut two years ago in London when she stopped twice to stretch her hip before her stunning kick down the home stretch to victory, but she is hoping for less drama in Sunday’s race.The 32-year-old Dutchwoman, who headlines the women’s field for the 45th edition of the London Marathon, laughed when asked on Friday if she is poised for an even better performance on her return to England’s capital.“Better than two years ago? I’m never going to be better than two years ago,” Hassan told reporters.“I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” she added. “I had a lot of drama in my win two years ago.”The Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000 meters dropped back from the field in the 2023 London race due to cramping before drawing on her track experience to out-sprint Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir and Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia.“Everybody is asking me ‘Do you remember what happened in London in 2023?’ I don’t remember a lot of it all honesty.