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Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from April’s London Marathon because of an Achilles injury.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Dutch athlete, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics<\/a> in a Games record time, sustained the injury when training on a treadmill six weeks ago.<\/p>\n She hoped to recover in time to race in London but has accepted defeat.<\/p>\n “To compete at that level, you need to be in perfect condition,” said Hassan, who won the women’s race at the 2023 London Marathon.<\/a><\/p>\n “After the incident, 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.<\/p>\n “I have to listen to my body and focus on recovering properly.”<\/p>\n Hassan, 33, is one of the most decorated long-distance runners in history, having also won gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.<\/p>\n With her subsequent success in 2024, the Ethiopia-born athlete became the first woman to win Olympic golds over 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon.<\/p>\n The 2026 edition of the London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 26 April.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n