Dutch star Sifan Hassan win’s Olympic women’s marathon

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Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan has capped a gruelling Paris Olympics campaign in grand style by outsprinting Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to win gold in the women’s marathon.

Hassan won in a Games record of two hours 22 minutes and 55 seconds, just three seconds ahead of Assefa, with the bronze going to Kenyan Hellen Obiri.

Hassan – a mutiple world and Olympic champion across a variety of distances – had previously won bronze medals in the 5000m and 10,000m in Paris.

Australians Jess Stenson and Genevieve Gregson shared a smile as they each took a turn at the lead at the halfway stage on Sunday.

Stenson, 36, ran on strongly to finish 13th in 2:26:45, while the 34-year-old Gregson did it tough in the last few kilometres, crossing the line in 24th spot in 2:29:56.

The third Australian, Sinead Diver, pulled out very early in the race with what was later diagnosed as bilateral cramping in both quadriceps.

Stenson had an anxious wait before her place in the Australian team was confirmed in early July after four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman unsuccessfully appealed her non-selection.

The only Australian to win an Olympic marathon medal was Lisa Ondieki, who was second in the women’s race in Seoul in 1988.

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