Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday s London marathon could be better than her debut

LONDON - Sifan Hassan concedes she remembers little about her remarkable marathon debut two years ago in London when she stopped twice to stretch her hip before her stunning kick down the home stretch to victory, but she is hoping for less drama in Sundays race.

The 32-year-old Dutchwoman, who headlines the womens field for the 45th edition of the London Marathon, laughed when asked on Friday if she is poised for an even better performance on her return to Englands capital.

Better than two years ago? Im never going to be better than two years ago, Hassan told reporters.

I dont know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours, she added. I had a lot of drama in my win two years ago.

The Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000 metres dropped back from the field in the 2023 London race due to cramping before drawing on her track experience to out-sprint Kenyas Peres Jepchirchir and Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia.

Everybody is asking me Do you remember what happened in London in 2023? I dont remember a lot of it all honesty. I was throwing up before the race and then I had some issues in the race, Hassan said. The biggest thing I remember was the last five kilometres and that part was crazy.

Hassan went on to win Olympic marathon gold last year in Paris in similarly dramatic fashion, battling Tigst Assefa before finally shaking off the Ethiopian with the finish line in sight.

I never knew that Id have that much patience for a race like the marathon, Hassan said. Every marathon is different, like Paris, Chicago, London or Tokyo.

Every time you run the London Marathon, its like competing the Olympics. Im excited to