Sifan Hassan: Marathon woman gives Paris Olympics 2024 thrilling finale

Dutchwoman overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa in a thrilling sprint finish to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2:22.55

Women's marathon gold medalist Sifan Hassan, centre, of the Netherlands, stands with silver medalist Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, and bronze medalist Hellen Obiri, right, of Kenya. AP

2024 Paris Olympics: as they happened

Sifan Hassan completed her mission impossible with a gruelling women's marathon win on the sun-baked streets of Paris on Sunday ahead of Tom Cruise giving the Olympic Games a Hollywood ending.

On the final day of what outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach would later describe as a "sensational" Games, Dutchwoman Hassan overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa in a thrilling sprint finish to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 55 seconds.

Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon – the last two events just two days apart.

Heading into the last 150 metres of her 10-day Olympics odyssey that spanned three events and 62 kilometres, Hassan traded elbows with Assefa and then sprinted by her to win the last track event of the Paris Games.

She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement.

"It was not easy," said Hassan, 31. "It was so hot, but I was feeling OK. I've never pushed myself through to the finish line as I did today."

Hassan added gold to the bronze medals she won in the 5,000 and 10,000m.

“I feel like I am dreaming. At the end, I thought, ‘This is just a 100-metre sprint. Come on, Sifan. One more. Just feel it,'" Hassan said. "Every step I challenged myself, and now I am so grateful.”

The Ethiopian team lodged a protest to have Hassan disqualified for obstruction, but it was rejected by the Jury of Appeal. It looked as if Assefa was blocking Hassan before they traded elbows.

Ethiopian-born Hassan did not attend the post-race news conference, where Assefa said she would have won if Hassan hadn’t impeded her.

“I didn’t expect at that moment it would happen. Maybe at that moment, if she didn’t push me I would have the gold,” Assefa said through a translator. “But anyway, I’m so happy for her that she gets the gold medal.”

Hassan now has six Olympic medals. In Tokyo, she won the 5,000m and 10,000m and finished third in the 1500m.

“She has shown the world that she can do everything," said Kenya's Hellen Obiri, who took the bronze medal. "People say it’s impossible, but she’s done it. So I say 'Big up’ for her."

Obiri had tried to up the pace earlier, knowing she couldn't take Hassan in a sprint.

“She is so strong," Obiri said. "No way we could break her.”

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

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 launching a late-race kick that will go down as one of the best the sport has seen.

As Hassan gathered to make her last pass, Assefa tried to block her path. Hassan moved to the inside around a bend.

Assefa tried to squeeze her against the barrier separating the course from the cheering fans. The runners traded elbows, then Hassan took off to victory.

Hassan's legend started building three years ago at the Tokyo Games when she was tripped up in a heat of the 1500m but scrambled to her feet to win the race. She then went on to claim the bronze.

She wasn’t as dominant over the past two years, in part because she was storing up for this feat.

After the 5,000m last Monday and the 10,000m on Friday, Hassan had roughly 35 hours to recover for the marathon.

She entered the Games looking to match Emil Zatopek's performance from 1952 when the Czech runner swept the 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon at the Helsinki Games. Hassan fell short, but she left a lasting impression.

"She’s inspired so many people,” said Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000m.

Following a spectacular closing ceremony at the Stade de France, attention now turns to the next Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.

LA played heavily on its Hollywood star power. A video saw the flag reach LA and was subsequently followed by music on the beach by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg.

Cruise, star of the Mission: Impossible films, closed the ceremony with a spectacular stunt sequence.

Cruise is filming the latest episode of the franchise in Europe and has been a regular feature at Olympic events in Paris.

The actor was lowered by rope from the roof of the Stade de France to receive the Olympic flag as part of the official handover to 2028 host city Los Angeles.

The move began a recorded sequence where Cruise roared down Parisian streets with the Olympic flag, making his way towards an awaiting military jet bound for Los Angeles.

Nearing his destination, Cruise then parachuted into the city and planted the flag next to the Hollywood sign.