"For anyone else, this would be insane!"- Michael Johnson reacts to Sifan Hassan announcing to compete in 5000m, 10000m and marathon at Paris Olympics

By Adityan Pillai

Modified Aug 01, 2024 06:24 GMT

Former Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson reacted to Ethiopian-born Dutch middle- and long-distance athlete, Sifan Hassan announcing to compete in three events - the 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon at the Paris Olympics. Her announcement came just days before the commencement of Track and Field at the Paris Olympics.

Initially, Sifan Hassan was set to compete in four events including the 1500m at the Paris Olympics. However, the reigning 5000m and 10,000m Olympic champion announced that she would be withdrawing from the 1500m to focus on defending her 5000m and 10,000m as well as competing in the marathon.

Michael Johnson was impressed by her ability to compete in such a wide range of events from the 5,000m to the full marathon. He took to X to express his thoughts on Hassan's decision to compete in three events at the Paris Olympics. Johnson exclaimed that to compete in two long-distance events and the marathon within a gap of a few days would be one of the toughest feats for any other athlete to pull off at the Olympics.

"For anyone else this would be insane! I don’t believe there’s ever been an athlete who enjoys racing more than Sifan Hassan," he wrote.

Sifan Hassan opens up on competing in three events at the Paris Olympics

Sifan Hassan after winning the silver medal on Day 8 - World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 - Source: Getty Images

Sifan Hassan spoke about competing at the Paris Olympics in an interview ahead of the quadrennial Games. She expressed her desire to compete in all three events and was looking forward to the great competition at the Paris Olympics. The Dutch athlete is set to compete against the world record holder in every event that she will be competing in.

“I’m happy to be running against these athletes and I can’t say I will get gold medals in all events as I have to face a world record holder in every event. My biggest goal is to complete the event, rather than the medal. I don’t want to make myself crazy by focusing on gold, the medals will come later," she said. (as quoted by notion.africa)

It’s good to take the risk and challenge yourself as a human being because life will always challenge you… I have been challenging myself from my youth,” she added.

Hassan would be in action in the women's 5000m heats at the Olympic Games on August 2, 2024, at 6:10 PM (local time).