Sifan Hassan’s an Ethiopian-born, who transitioned from being a refugee to one of the greatest athletes of this era, confirmed in the just concluded Tokyo Games to become the first person to win three medals over 1500m, 5,000m and 10,000m.
The 28-year-old left the shores of Ethiopia as a refugee and arrived in the Netherlands in 2008 at age fifteen where she moved into a shelter for asylum seekers.
In an interview with the Nytimes, she said “I really had an amazing life until I was 14, I was full of play, outside, happy. After 14 I really had difficulty. Life put me down so many times, but I am here today.”
According to her, When she moved into a house with other asylum seekers she told her supervisor she would like to run, but only had an old pair of trainers. However, her club provided her with spikes. “I think all of us, nobody has a perfect life,” she said. “I tell people: ‘When life is hard, you will see yourself like you never imagined before. Never give up.’
Her determined spirit was what kept her motivated throughout the events as she flirted with disaster. She tweaked a muscle in her leg while warming up for her qualifying heat in the 5,000 meters, an injury that her management team said bothered her throughout the Olympics.
One incredible event that caught the eyes of the whole world was that despite falling during her women’s 1,500 heat race in the just-ended Tokyo 2020 Olympics games the Ethiopian – Dutch athlete still got on her feet and managed to finish first! Hassan claimed a bronze medal in the finals also.
The proud Sifan won gold in the 5000 metres and 10000 metres at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She also won bronze in the 1500 metres. She became the only athlete ever to medal in the 1500, 5000, and 10000 metre at the same Olympic Games. Her winning time was 14:36.79 ahead of Hellen Obiri from Kenya with 14:38.36, Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia won the bronze medal with a time of 14:38.87.
Some people aren’t born with a silver spoon but with hard work and determination, they could eventually obtain one. African Giant Sifan’s story is an inspiration and affirmation of the fact that the continent of Africa is rooted in great talents, irrigate them with the right conditions, and these talents and skills can flourish accordingly.
