Dutch runner Sifan Hassan fell during first rounds of the women’s 1500m but still managed to place first in her heat at the Tokyo Games on Sunday, Aug 1.
As the bell sounded for the final lap, Hassan – the current world record holder for the women’s 5k road race and the one mile – tripped over Kenyan runner Edinah Jebitok, who fell after a chain-reaction of near-trips that happened from the middle of the pack.
Hassan, 28, was able to quickly pick herself back up and blitz through the remaining 300 meters. She went from being 13th out of 15 runners to first place, securing a spot for the semi-finals.
Her bid for Olympic gold in three distance running events – the 1,500 meter, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter – in Tokyo is very much alive; She won gold in the 5,000 meter final on Monday Aug. 2. Her next race is the 1,500 meter semifinal on Wednesday Aug 4.
