Dutch Runner Loses at World Championships With Heartbreaking Fall on Final Straightaway

Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan was so close to history.

In the World Athletics Championships in Budapest Saturday, Hassan was bidding for her first world championship gold since winning two in Doha in 2019. She had the opportunity to add to a formidable, versatile resume that includes 5,000- and 10,000-meter golds at the Tokyo Olympics in ’21.

However, leading with 40 meters to go in the 10,000-meter race, Hassan tripped and fell to the ground. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, with whom Hassan had been jockeying for position for much of the final lap, strode across the finish line as the winner; Letesenbet Gidey and Ejgayehu Taye followed her to give Ethiopia a podium sweep.

"I think I got pushed by the Ethiopian," Hassan said. "I hope I am not crazy. I will need to look at the replay to see what exactly happened."

It was Tsegay’s second world championship gold, and marked a heartbreaking defeat for Hassan—who recovered to finish 11th.

"I am keeping my smile but it is really hard. I am very disappointed," she said. "This is sport, these things happen. I just had a bad moment."