Sifan Hassan did a workout immediately after her 1,500m final

As if competing in three distance events in nine days at the 2023 World Athletics Championships wasn’t hard enough, Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan completed 400m repeats after Tuesday night’s 1,500m final, where she won bronze in 3:56.00.

Sifan Hassan did a workout after the 1,500m final…

"I was just doing some easy making kilometres, some 400s," says Hassan. "It's not really a big deal. They (the media) make it a big deal."#WAbudapest pic.twitter.com/vn4vedq3rx

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) August 23, 2023

Hassan told the media in Budapest after her 5,000m heat on Wednesday evening that she did a speed workout of five 400m reps in around 65 seconds with 40 seconds of rest, even though she had the 5,000m heats less than 24 hours later. “I was just doing some easy making kilometres, some 400s,” says Hassan. “It’s not really a big deal. They (the media) make it a big deal.”

The 30-year-old reigning London marathon champion said her reasoning behind the workout was to continue to prepare for the 2023 Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8. “In six weeks, I have to run the Chicago Marathon,” says Hassan. “I am trying to prepare for that.”

Her triple at worlds got off to a rough start, when she fell in the final 50 metres of the women’s 10,000m on Day 1, finishing 11th. She won her first medal (bronze) of the championships on Tuesday evening in the 1,500m, but faltered in the final 50 metres, conceding silver to Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, while Faith Kipyegon defended her world title.

5 things runners can learn from London Marathon champion Sifan Hassan

On Wednesday night, she squared up against Kipyegon again in the heats of the women’s 5,000m. Hassan won the heat in 14:32.29 over Kipyegon, both qualifying for Saturday’s final, which will be Hassan’s last race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships are taking place from August 19-27 at the National Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. All the action will be brought to you by Canadian Running and Asics Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.