Record-setting Sifan Hassan captures 3rd Olympic gold medal, 1st in women's marathon

Sifan Hassan traded elbows with Tigst Assefa with 150 metres left in the women's marathon, then passed her along the railing to win the race for her third distance medal of the Paris Games on Sunday.

Hassan, an Ethiopian-born racer who runs for the Netherlands, finished in an Olympic record time of two hours 22 minutes 55 seconds. Ethiopia's Assefa, three seconds behind her, took silver and Kenya's Hellen Obiri (2:23:10) earned bronze.

Hassan raised her hands and yelled as he crossed the line, then wrapped the Dutch flag around her head as she celebrated. Wearing an orange bucket hat, she wrapped an arm around Nepal's Shantoshi Shrestha, whose smile was as bright as the sun pouring down on them.

Then, taking in the enormity of her win, Hassan plunged her head in her hands and appeared to weep with joy.

The 31-year-old also won bronze on the track in the 5,000 and 10,000. By simply completing the marathon, she ran more than 62 kilometers. She now has six Olympic medals. In Tokyo, Hassan won the 5,000 and 10,000 and finished third in the 1,500.

Breaking from tradition, the women's Olympic marathon was held on the final day instead of the men's race.

Hassan used the same tactic on the hilly 42.2 km.course she does on the oval. She lingered behind the leaders for the bulk of the race before summoning up the energy for a late-race kick that will go down as one of the best the sport has seen.

Hassan used the same tactic in the hilly, 26.2-mile course as she does on the oval. She lingered behind the leaders for the bulk of the race before summoning up the energy for a late-race kick that will go down as one of the best the sport has seen.

WATCH | Hassan reaches top of podium with 3rd medal at Paris Olympics:

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