Sifan Hassan is thinking about trying to emulate the legendary achievement of Emil Zatopek and go for gold in the women’s 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at next year’s Olympics, reports on Tuesday said.

The 30-year-old Dutch athlete, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m races at the last Games in Tokyo, made a stunning marathon debut in London on Sunday, coming home first in 2:18:33.

She has since talked about emulating the achievement of the legendary Czech, who won his three golds at the Helsinki Games, Hassan’s coach told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper on Tuesday.

Tim Rowberry said he was used to Hassan surprising him in many ways but still taken aback when the athlete herself started talking about a Czech runner and his achievements in 1952, after Sunday’s success.

She pointed out that Zatopek’s triple gold achievement was a feat never since replicated, Rowberry said, suggesting a seed had been planted in her head.

They must now decide an objective for next year’s Games in Paris although Hassan and her coach are unlikely to make that public until the last moment. She has a history of keeping her plans close to her chest and only deciding at the last moment.

Hassan did chase a triple gold in Tokyo but finished third in the 1,500m.

Asked after her London triumph on Sunday whether she would now be turning her attention exclusively to the marathons, Hassan said: “I can’t do that. I really enjoyed the marathon, I even enjoyed the journey, the leg and stretching things.

“I want to do marathons but I really want to stay on the track also. I love the track, this doesn’t change that. I am someone who wants everything and wants to be everywhere.”

Photo by EPA/TOLGA AKMEN