FOUR TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST SIFAN HASSAN TO MAKE AUSTRALIAN DEBUT AT 2025 TCS SYDNEY MARATHON
- TCS Sydney Marathon
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Paris gold medalist to headline first Abbott World Marathon Major on Australian soil
(Sydney, 25 June 2025) The TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS has today confirmed that distance running great Sifan Hassan (NED) will compete in the 2025 event, marking the first time the celebrated athlete will race on Australian soil.
Renowned as one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes in the history of distance running, Hassan’s achievements span from Olympic dominance on the track to record-breaking success on the road. She is a four-time Olympic medallist, most recently claiming gold in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, cementing her place among the sport’s all-time greats.
NSW Minister for Sport and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, said: “I’m thrilled Sifan Hassan will make her Australian racing debut at the TCS Sydney Marathon. Having the reigning women’s Olympic marathon champion at the start line, along with the great Eliud Kipchoge, is testament to how big this event has become on the world stage now it has joined the elite ranks of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. 35,000 runners from across the globe will join Sifan for a bucket list running experience, and we look forward to cheering them on as they run the most spectacular marathon course in the world.”
A dominant force across multiple distances, Hassan’s career includes six World Athletics titles and victories at the TCS London Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon, where she set a personal best time of 2:13:44, a time that ranks her third on the all-time list for female marathoners.
Hassan will arrive in Sydney as one of the fastest women in marathon history, setting up a tantalising prospect as she takes on the course record of 2:21:41, set by Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa in 2024. Gurmesa’s time not only set a new Sydney course record but also broke the record for the fastest marathon ever run by a female on Australian soil, surpassing the long-standing mark set by Naoko Takahashi at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
TCS Sydney Marathon Race Director, Wayne Larden, said: “From her extraordinary range on the track to her dominance on the roads, Sifan Hassan is a true global icon. Having an athlete of her calibre compete in Sydney is a dream for our event and for Australian fans. It will be thrilling to see her take on the streets of Sydney.”
Hassan’s debut in Sydney offers a rare opportunity for fans, athletes, and the wider community to witness one of the world’s greatest distance runners on Australian soil. With iconic views from the start line in North Sydney to the spectacular finish at the Sydney Opera House, the TCS Sydney Marathon promises to be an unforgettable celebration of sport and achievement.
Jane Flemming OAM, President of Australian Athletics, said: “Sifan Hassan’s appearance in Sydney is not only a coup for the event but a truly special moment for our sporting community. To see an athlete of her calibre, a global champion and cultural role model, racing on Australian soil is something we don’t take for granted. It’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation, particularly young women, to dream big and chase the impossible.”
Beyond her extraordinary athletic achievements, Hassan is admired globally for her humility, resilience, and the powerful example she sets as a proud Muslim woman in elite sport. Born in Ethiopia and resettled in the Netherlands as a refugee, she has used her platform to advocate for diversity, representation, and the strength of women in sport. Her story resonates far beyond the finish line, inspiring millions with her grace, grit, and unwavering sense of purpose.
Sifan Hassan expressed her excitement at racing in Australia for the first time:
“Running has given me so much, not just as an athlete, but as a person. It has been a way to connect with people, to tell my story, and to show that no matter where you come from, you can achieve something meaningful. I’m honoured to bring that message to Sydney and to be part of an event that celebrates strength, community and possibility.”
Hassan’s commitment to Sydney underscores the TCS Sydney Marathon’s growing prestige and its appeal to the world’s best athletes, with 2025 marking the first edition of the event as an official AbbottWMM race. She will be joined by a world-class women’s field, with the remaining domestic and international athletes to be announced in the coming weeks.
The TCS Sydney Marathon is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The event is owned by Athletics Australia and managed by Pont3.
For more information please visit: www.tcssydneymarathon.com
-ENDS-
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