On the last Olympic morning in Paris, next to the famous Palace of the Invalids, two girls - Sifan Hasan and Tigst Asefi - are fighting for glory, for gold...
The marathon race was decided in the last meters - for many there is no doubt that Sifan is faster, but does the legendary athlete have the strength after running 62 kilometers in just nine days at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The girl, who was born in Ethiopia 31 years ago, and who has been defending the colors of the Netherlands since 2013, did not disappoint - she was faster than former compatriot Asefi and won the gold medal, the third medal overall in Paris.
And all this would perhaps not be strange if Sifan had not already run the qualifications and the 42,195 meter race before the marathon (5.000 km), and then performed in the 10.000 meter race.
"Only Sifan Hasan is 'crazy' enough to try to run the 5.000m and 10.000m races and the marathon in one event, but she is also the only athlete talented and versatile enough to succeed in all three," the British "Guardian" described the Dutch heroine. , who won bronze medals in the 5.000 and 10.000 before the gold in the marathon.
However, the great champion does not hide that there were moments during the marathon when she thought she made the wrong decisions in Paris.
"When the race started, I was angry with myself for taking part in the 5.000 and 10.000 meters, because I didn't feel well, my legs weren't listening to me... I thought that everything would be better if I just dedicated myself to the marathon, I would feel better And then, around the 20th kilometer, everything changed, that's when I knew that this was my day," explained Hasan.
She had to be happy in the end...
"I like when I fight with myself, I like to find out what my ranges are, whether I can finish each of those three races," said Hasan.
And she succeeded, and it's not the first time...
Three years ago, at the Tokyo Games, she competed in the 1.500, 5.000 and 10.000 meters. Even then, each of the races had her signature - gold in the two longer sections and bronze in the 1.500.
Bonus video:
