Olympic champion Sifan Hassan withdraws from London Marathon

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the TCS London Marathon scheduled for April 26 after sustaining an Achilles injury during training.

The Dutch athlete, 33, injured herself on a treadmill six weeks ago while preparing for the race. Hassan initially hoped the injury would resolve in time to compete, but decided to withdraw after determining she could not train at the level required for competition.

"To compete at that level, you need to be in perfect condition," Hassan said. "After the incident, I hoped the injury would settle, but as training progressed it became clear that I wasn't able to prepare at the level I expect from myself. I have to listen to my body and focus on recovering properly."

Hassan was among the favourites to win this year's London Marathon. She won the women's race at the 2023 edition and holds the title of reigning Olympic marathon champion after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics in a Games record time.

The Ethiopia-born runner is one of the most decorated long-distance runners in history. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she won gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m. With her subsequent marathon victory in 2024, Hassan became the first woman to win Olympic golds over all three distances: 5,000m, 10,000m, and the marathon.

Race organisers confirmed Hassan's withdrawal. The athlete said she is prioritising her long-term health and proper recovery from the injury.