Sifan Hassan withdraws from World Cross Country Championships

Double Olympic champion, Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the 45th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships scheduled for March 30, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 31 year-old who is also the double European Cross Country champion, said she now needs to give her body more time to heal as she focuses on the 2024 Paris Olympics and wants to avoid any unwanted injuries.

The second fastest woman on the road wrote on her Instagram, “I’ve changed my plans and decided to continue training over competing at World Cross Country Championships. I prefer to give my body more time to recover from the marathon and focus on what is ahead. ”

The double world champion had a memorable Tokyo Olympics, winning two golds in 5000m, 10000m and a solitary bronze medal in 1500m. This season, the Dutch athlete might have a similar aim of participating in all three disciplines in Paris.