Olympic champion Hassan withdraws from NYC Marathon

Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the New York City Marathon, citing a setback in her training, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The athlete, who previously competed in the Paris 2024 marathon and claimed gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Games, had not taken part in a race since finishing sixth in the five boroughs event a year ago. Hassan expressed her disappointment, stating that despite her excitement to return stronger, a sickness slowed her training progress.

Hassan was among two high-profile athletes to abandon the year's final marathon major on this day. Another notable name to withdraw was Fiona O Keeffe, a US Olympic trials champion, due to injury. The impact of these withdrawals on the marathon's event is yet to be seen, but it signals a potential shift in the lineup of elite runners participating in the race.