Hassan makes his Olympic Games debut – gets water from Almgren

Swedish record and Olympic Games spot – but the career's first marathon was not flawless. It will come in Paris. I hope to get out everything I have and take a top placement, says Suldan Hassan ahead of Saturday's race.

» Updated:

» Published:

Hassan makes his Olympic Games debut – gets water from Almgren
Photo: Jessica Gow / TT

Share this article

He started with athletics eleven years ago, but had never run a marathon until February this year.

In Spanish Sevilla, Suldan Hassan found his distance.

The 26-year-old, who previously focused on 5,000 meters, set a Swedish record with a time of 2.07.36 and qualified for the OS in Paris – despite missing drinking at six of the eight hydration stations.

Did not drink water

I'm half-blind and the tables were on the right side. You had to choose one of the different bottles when you ran at a pretty high tempo, he says.

I got it at the first two stations and thought then that it was under control, but it was the last time I saw any fluid.

In France, the long-distance runner has an eye on where the hydration is and aims to get a perfect race.

There was a lot that didn't go right then, but I hope to do it better now.

Now he's also getting help.

Injured runner Andreas Almgren, who withdrew from 5,000 meters at Stade de France this week, is one of the pacers along the track.

It seems to be in order with him, so he'll probably give me fluids, says Hassan.

"Perform"

Saturday's marathon, which stretches from central Paris to Versailles and back, will be the Swede's second.

And despite being inexperienced, he's aiming high.

I came here to perform. It may not be entirely ideal, but I can still do it well, he says.

At the same time, he knows that time is on his side, that it's not really now that he should be at his best.

Few start with marathon as early as Suldan Hassan, and often the best times come late in their careers.

I think I have at least ten years left on the distance and can develop, he says.

To get to run now, against two of the best runners of all time, Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) and Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia), feels big, and I'd like to be there and fight for placings.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Blackstenius Shines as Arsenal Triumphs Over West Ham in Derby

Blackstenius Shines as Arsenal Triumphs Over West Ham in Derby

Turkey Advances to European Basketball Championship Final After Defeating Greece

Turkey Advances to European Basketball Championship Final After Defeating Greece

Sweden Levels Davis Cup Tie Against Tunisia After Dramatic Comeback

Sweden Levels Davis Cup Tie Against Tunisia After Dramatic Comeback

Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger Sidelined by Injury Until December

Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger Sidelined by Injury Until December

Olympic Gold Medalist Andrei Chemerkin Dies at 53

Olympic Gold Medalist Andrei Chemerkin Dies at 53

Finland Falls to Germany in European Basketball Semifinal

Finland Falls to Germany in European Basketball Semifinal

Newcastle Coach Eddie Howe Discusses Alexander Isak's Departure

Newcastle Coach Eddie Howe Discusses Alexander Isak's Departure

Perseus Karlström Prepares for Tokyo World Championship Heat

Perseus Karlström Prepares for Tokyo World Championship Heat

Ludvig Åberg Drops to Second in PGA Championship at Wentworth

Ludvig Åberg Drops to Second in PGA Championship at Wentworth

Andreas Almgren Aims for World Championship Medal in Tokyo 10000m

Andreas Almgren Aims for World Championship Medal in Tokyo 10000m

Rögle Signs NHL Veteran Defenseman Calvin de Haan

Rögle Signs NHL Veteran Defenseman Calvin de Haan

Sprinter Erriyon Knighton Receives Four-Year Suspension

Sprinter Erriyon Knighton Receives Four-Year Suspension

Mike Powell Suspended from All Athletics Activities by AIU

Mike Powell Suspended from All Athletics Activities by AIU

Mutaz Essa Barshim to Miss Tokyo World Championship Due to Injury

Mutaz Essa Barshim to Miss Tokyo World Championship Due to Injury

Ethiopian Runner Diribe Welteji Suspended Before World Championship

Ethiopian Runner Diribe Welteji Suspended Before World Championship

Nordås Skips Media Ahead of World Championship as Coach Leaves Tokyo

Nordås Skips Media Ahead of World Championship as Coach Leaves Tokyo

Slot Commends Tomasson for Managing Isak's Playing Time

Slot Commends Tomasson for Managing Isak's Playing Time

NHL Reinstates Cleared World Junior Championship Players After Suspension

NHL Reinstates Cleared World Junior Championship Players After Suspension

Greg Norman Departs LIV Tour After Transformative Years

Greg Norman Departs LIV Tour After Transformative Years

Charlotte Kalla Joins SVT as Olympic Games Expert

Charlotte Kalla Joins SVT as Olympic Games Expert