Why Sifan Hassan is racing the mile in London
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 11.07.25. | 21:11
Her national and area record of 4:12.33, set in 2019, in the rarely raced distance, is under threat
Reigning Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan will take time off her Sydney Marathon training to get back on track as she competes in the mile at the London Diamond League on Saturday, 19 July.
Hassan, a multiple European record holder from 1500m (3:51.95) through to the marathon (2:13:44) has her sights set on her national and area record of 4:12.33 in the rarely raced distance.
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An Olympic medalist in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon, she is also a former world record-holder in the mile and is contesting the distance barely a fortnight after triple Olympic 1500m gold medalist Faith Kipyegon missed the Breaking4' mile target, clocking 4:06:42 in a race staged at the Stade Sebastian Charlety on Thursday, 26 June in Paris, France.
"I have learned so much about myself racing in London, both on the road and the track, and I am excited to return and to compete again at the Olympic stadium,” Hassan, whose mile PB dates back to Monaco in 2019 and remains the European record, said.
The Dutch star has secured success in London in the past, taking victory on her marathon debut in 2023 before finishing third in the 2025 event. She last competed on the track in the London Athletics Meet in 2023, finishing third in the 5000m in a European record of 14:13.42.
This is the star athlete's first track race of the year, having only been in action at the London Marathon in April, clocking 2:19:00 in race where Tigst Assefa broke the World Record in 2:15:50 as Joyciline Jepkosgei placed second.
“Last year my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Games. I know I am probably a bit crazy to mix it up so much, but I like the combination of track and road and I want to see what is possible,” added the 32-year-old, who claimed Olympic 5000m and 10,000m bronze as well as marathon gold last year.
“Now that the London Marathon is over, I will be returning to shorter distances for the track season. I enjoy these different races, tactics and distances, and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do in the Diamond League mile in London."
