Sifan Hassan managed to achieve the impossible with a demanding victory in the women’s marathon under the blazing sun in Paris on Sunday, amidst rumors that Tom Cruise will conclude the Olympic Games with a Hollywood-style ending.
With China and the United States vying for the top spots on the medals table, the final day of what is considered a successful Olympics featured fourteen gold medals up for grabs.
Dutch athlete Hassan took on a daring challenge by participating in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon events – with the last two just two days apart.
In an exhilarating sprint finish, Hassan surpassed Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to claim gold by a three-second margin in an Olympic record time of 2hr 22min 55sec.
Just two days prior, she had won the bronze in the 10,000m at the Stade de France, following a bronze in the 5,000m as well.
After the race, she collapsed on the blue carpet in front of the Invalides memorial complex in Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate her incredible achievement.
“It wasn’t easy,” Hassan commented. “The weather was extremely hot, but I managed to push through. I’ve never pushed myself as hard as I did today to cross the finish line.”
This marked a sensational conclusion to the athletics events at the Olympics, with US sprinter Noah Lyles winning the 100m by a mere five thousandths of a second.
The US excelled in athletics and aimed for gold in the final event of the Games, with their women’s basketball team hoping to secure victory against host nation France.
If they succeed, it would be an eighth consecutive gold medal, setting a new record for most consecutive golds in any team sport at the Olympic Games.
Various other sports including wrestling, weightlifting, water polo, volleyball, modern pentathlon, handball, and track cycling will also award Olympic champions on the last day of the Games.
As the sporting events come to a close, focus shifts to the closing ceremony at the Stade de France and the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.
The Los Angeles Olympics are expected to feature prominent Hollywood figures like pop star Billie Eilish, rapper Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Rumors suggest that Hollywood star Tom Cruise, known for his role in the “Mission Impossible” franchise, will be part of the closing ceremony with a spectacular stunt sequence.
“The Olympic Games will conclude on August 11, and the Olympic flame will be extinguished,” stated Thomas Jolly, the mastermind behind the unique opening ceremony along the River Seine.
“This moment serves as a reminder of the precious nature of the Olympic Games,” added Jolly, who faced criticism for a scene in the opening ceremony that appeared to parody the Last Supper.
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