Sifan Hassan stopped twice and was almost run over by a TV motorbike en route to the most dramatic win in London Marathon history.
The Dutch star, a two-distance Olympic track champion, had never before run a marathon and forgot to strap her troublesome hip before taking to the start line.
She had come straight off a month of fasting during Ramadan, had no experience of running on asphalt and zero experience of drinking fluids during a road race.
Yet as rain hammered down on the streets of London and men’s winner Kelvin Kiptum ran the second fastest marathon ever (2:1:25), Hassan sensationally overcame the odds to win in 2:18:33.
“It is really amazing, I never thought I would finish a marathon,” said the Ethiopian-born ace. “And in one of the greatest marathons, I finished it, and I won.”
Hassan holds European records from 1500 metres to the Half Marathon and in Tokyo two summers ago achieved the Olympic long-distance double.
But as she came to halt for the second time at Mile 12, holding her hip and grimacing, she thought her good fortune had finally run out.
“I was 100 per cent sure I was going to stop somewhere because whenever I tried to speed up it hurt me,” she said.
Up in the commentary box Paula Radcliffe was in no doubt, telling the watching nation: “She needs to stop. Somebody needs to give her some advice to step off and stop trying to run on.”
Co-commentator Steve Cram agreed, cautioning her against putting her summer track season at risk. “It would be silly to do anything today that would scupper 2023,” he said.
Hassan had other ideas. She began moving again and started eating into the 28-second deficit against the best quality women’s field ever assembled.
“Finishing, 100 per cent didn’t come into my mind,” she said. “I was born for drama.”
That much was clear as she ran past the final drinks station on the Embankment, suddenly realised her error and veered right towards the table, straight into the path of a motorbike.
“I could have been hit but I didn’t really care, I just wanted to finish the marathon,” she said. “Did I believe I could win? Not before I crossed the line.
“When I woke up this morning I was telling myself I was stupid to run a marathon, and what is wrong with me. I was so scared I even cried. To do this is just amazing. I will never forget this in my whole life.”
Soon after Kiptum, 23, stormed down the same stretch of road to take 72secs of Eliud Kipchoge’s course record. It capped an extraordinary day.
