Olympian and track and field star Sifan Hassan has had an incredible year, to say the least. Hauling one gold and two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the middle-distance runner proved to be an elite athlete, and the stellar feat has brought her yet another milestone. However, the 31-year-old global celebrity had her doubts about bagging her latest accolade.

On December 1, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, Sifan Hassan was named the Female World Athlete of the Year, while Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo received the honor as her male counterpart. In Paris, Hassan won the marathon gold in an Olympic record time (2.22:55) and was naturally a strong contender for the title. And yet, after her name was announced, Hassan’s astonished facial expressions couldn’t be missed. And she took to the stage to reveal how skeptical thoughts never left the back of her mind.

In a post on X by Track Spice from December 1, Sifan’s speech from the 2024 World Athletics Gala was shared. “I never thought I’m gonna win this one because this year was crazy. It was not only me all the athletes were amazing. That’s why I didn’t thought I’m going to win,” confessed the Dutch national. She noted that this was exactly the reason that made her ponder if she had any chances of being acknowledged by experts and pundits of the sport, despite what she managed to pull off in Paris earlier this year.

“This is a crazy year, especially the Paris Marathon and the finish line,” grinned Sifan Hassan after claiming her award. At the 2023 World Championships too, Sifan hauled two medals. But while the 2024 Olympics didn’t see her perform as well as in Tokyo three years ago (two gold and one bronze), there wasn’t anyone else who could top Hassan’s Parisian campaign. “I’m really grateful,” the track runner gleefully said with the top-tier athletics trophy in her hand.

“Thank you to the fans, to everybody who voted,” said Sifan Hassan to those who helped her to win her latest feat. However, the award might not be without its fair share of controversies either, especially considering the debatable scenes that unfolded near the finishing line for the women’s Marathon event in the City of Love in August this year.

Sifan Hassan’s achievement didn’t come without glaring looks from some fans

The clash between the Dutch runner Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa during the final stretches of the race caught the eyes of many fans on the sidelines as well as those watching the tournament from their homes. Hassan and Assefa were spotted exchanging elbows, just 150 meters from the finishing line, and Assefa ultimately was placed second to win silver in the event. But her frustration over how things unfolded wasn’t kept hidden. “I didn’t expect that moment that happened…maybe if that moment she didn’t push me, I might have the gold,” Tigst said about Hassan’s questionable actions.

The other event in which Sifan Hassan earned medals in Paris, the women’s 5000m, was also under fire after the top two finishers got entangled in another clash. The physical tryst between Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon almost got the latter DQ’d. Thankfully, none of the issues spilled over to cause any trouble to Hassan in that race, and she went on to win bronze at her own pace.

After winning the Marathon gold this year, Sifan Hassan also noted how it was like a dream come true moment for her and how she felt like she had finally redeemed her loss from three years ago. All things considered, would you agree that Hassan was the clear favorite to win the Female Athlete of The Year award? Or did you have a different candidate in mind? Tell us more!