Versatile Hassan Aims for Fast Mile as She Returns to Track in London

Reigning Olympic marathon champion and charismatic track star Sifan Hassan (NED) will compete in the mile at the sold-out Novuna London Athletics Meet on Saturday 19 July.

Hassan – a multiple European record holder from 1500m (3:51.95) through to the marathon (2:13:44) – has an incredible record at recent major championships. In addition to winning marathon gold in Paris she was a double bronze medallist in the 5000m and 10,000m. As a result, she became the first woman to win medals in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Olympic Games and the first athlete to do so since Emil Zatopek, who won all three men’s titles in Helsinki in 1952. In Tokyo (2021) she won gold in the 5000m and 10,000m and was a bronze medallist in the 1500m.

The 32-year-old has enjoyed success in London too, most notably taking victory on her marathon debut in 2023 (2:18.33), most recently finishing third in the 2025 event (2:19:00). She last competed on the track in the London Athletics Meet in 2023, finishing third in the 5000m in a European record time of 14:13.42.

“I’ve learned so much about myself racing in London, both on the road and the track, and I’m excited to return and to compete again at the Olympic stadium,” said the 2024 World Athlete of the Year who has a mile best of 4:12.33 (also the European record).

“Last year my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Games. I know I’m 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. 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!”

The Novuna London Athletics Meet – the world’s biggest one-day athletics event – is the eleventh meeting of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League. The series, which will pay out a record total of 9.24 million US dollars in prize money, comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents and started with Xiamen on 26 April. It concludes with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).