Hassan did not attend the post-race news conference, where Assefa said she would have won if Hassan hadn’t impeded her.
”I didn’t expect at that moment it would happen. Maybe at that moment, if she didn’t push me I would have the gold,” Assefa said through a translator. ”But anyway, I’m so happy for her that she gets the gold medal.”
Assefa declined to specify if she asked for the protest or if it was the Ethiopian team on its own.
”I can’t say anything, but she is a good athlete,” Assefa replied.
By simply completing the marathon, the 31-year-old Hassan ran more than 38 miles (62 kilometers). She now has six Olympic medals. In Tokyo, Hassan won the 5,000 and 10,000 and finished third in the 1,500.
”She has shown the world that she can do everything,” Obiri said. “People say it’s impossible, but she’s done it. So I say ‘Big up’ for her.”
