Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn from the upcoming London Marathon scheduled for April 26 due to an Achilles injury.
The Dutch star sustained the injury during a training session around six weeks ago. Initially considered minor, the issue worsened as her training intensity increased, ultimately forcing her to pull out of the race.
Hassan, who holds a personal best of 2:13:44, has enjoyed significant success in London, including a victory in 2023 and a third-place finish last year.
Speaking about her decision, Hassan emphasized the importance of being in peak condition to compete at the highest level, adding that she was unable to prepare to her usual standards.
She is not the only notable absence, as wheelchair athlete Susannah Scaroni has also withdrawn, impacting the overall field.
Hassan will now focus on recovery and long-term fitness, prioritising the remainder of the 2026 season over an early return to competition.