ATHLETICS: Olympic champion Hassan pulls out of London Marathon with Achilles injury

Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the London Marathon due to an Achilles injury, ending her bid to compete after a demanding 2025 season. The 33-year-old, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said she must focus on proper recovery before returning to competition.

REUTERS

March 24, 2026

Netherlands' Sifan Hassan celebrates after winning the Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, on August 31, 2025.

Hollie Adams / Reuters

Dutch Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the London Marathon after suffering an Achilles injury, race organizers announced on Monday.

The 2023 London Marathon winner sustained the injury during a training session six weeks ago. She made the decision to pull out following a demanding 2025 season in which she competed in several major marathons.

“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,” Hassan, 33, said. “To compete at this level, you need to be in perfect condition. I have to listen to my body and focus on recovering properly.”

Hassan is one of the most decorated distance runners in history, holding three Olympic gold medals. She won the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics in an Olympic record time and previously claimed gold in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

-Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters