By Sudipto Ganguly
TOKYO (Reuters) – Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan unleashed her sizzling pace in the final lap to win the women’s 5,000 metres gold medal on Monday and kick off her bid for an unprecedented Olympic treble.
The Ethiopian-born middle-distance runner has confirmed that she will add the 1,500 metres event to her 5,000m and 10,000m runs at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. The 28-year-old Hassan is the reigning world champion in the 1,500 and 10,000.
Her dream looked under threat during Monday’s morning session when she fell in her 1,500m heat at the start of the final lap.
“I can’t believe it,” she told reporters after completing her win on a slightly wet track following heavy rain.
“I used all my energy this morning and I was kind of tired. I couldn’t believe what happened. It was terrible when I tripped.
“I felt terrible afterwards and I never thought I am going to be Olympic champion.”
She recovered brilliantly, however, and almost sprinted to win her heat and advance to the semi-finals.
In the evening, she bided her time until the final lap and then showed the same pace to speed away from the leading pack and take victory in 14:36.79.
Hassan said she owed her first Olympic gold medal to caffeine.
“It has been an amazing day. When I fell down and had to jump up I felt like I was using so much energy. I couldn’t believe the feelings in my legs. All the energy seemed to leave me,” she said.
“Before the race here I didn’t even care. I was so tired. Without coffee I would never be Olympic champion. I needed all the caffeine. I was so scared I wasn’t going to do it.”
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, a double world champion and Olympic silver medallist five years ago in Rio, had to be satisfied with another silver as she finished in 14:38.36.
Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay went into the race as the world leader with her personal best 14:13.32 that she clocked to win the Ethiopian trials in June.
She could only stay close to Obiri as Hassan sped away, however, and ended with the bronze medal.
Hassan will now turn her focus back on the 1,500m before she lines up for Saturday’s 10,000 final.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Ken Ferris and Ed Osmond)
