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Sifan Hassan confirms quest for Games triple in Tokyo

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 30: Sifan Hassan of Team Netherlands crosses the finish line first ahead of Agnes Jebet Tirop of Team Kenya in Heat 1 of the Women's 5000m Round 1on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Getty Images, 2021 Getty Images)

Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan confirmed on Sunday that she will attempt an unprecedented Olympic triple on the Tokyo track, adding the 1,500m event to her 5,000m and 10,000m runs.

Hassan won her 5,000m heat at the Olympic Stadium to qualify for Monday's final but said that she was yet to make a decision on her events due to the stifling conditions in Tokyo and the COVID-19 restrictions.

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"For me it is crucial to follow my heart," she said in a statement on Sunday confirming her participation in all three track events.

"Doing that is far more important than gold medals. That keeps me motivated and it keeps me enjoying this beautiful sport."

View social media post: https://twitter.com/nzaccardi/status/1421644758330527747

The Ethiopian-born 28-year-old, a world champion in the 1,500 and 10,000, will have to run the first round of the 1500 in Monday's day session when temperatures are set to soar close to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

She will then need to recover sufficiently before returning to the track in the evening for the strenuous 5,000m final.