"Not afraid to lose"- Michael Johnson reacts to Sifan Hassan's mindset behind winning multiple Olympic medals

Michael Johnson recently admired Sifan Hassan for her winning mindset and for being the first front cover star for Athletics Weekly magazine in 2025. The latter showed her exceptional talent in the 2024 season.

Hassan won three medals at the 2024 Paris Games, including the 5000m, 10000m and marathon events. She clocked a stunning time of 2:22:55 to register an Olympic record and defeated Tigst Assefa and Hellen Obiri, who posted 2:22:58 and 2:23:10, respectively.

Initially winning a silver medal in the 5000m, Hassan was later given the bronze medal after Faith Kipyegon was reinstated with a silver medal following Kenya's appeal for their athlete's disqualification for obstruction. The Dutch athlete also won a bronze medal in the 10000m at the Games after listing her season's best of 30:44.12.

By achieving these glorious feats, Hassan became the first Olympic athlete (male or female) to win medals in these three events at the same edition of the Games since 1952. Her outstanding Olympic success was recently celebrated by Athletics Weekly, a sports magazine.

Hassan made an appearance on the cover of the magazine's first issue of 2025, flaunting her Paris Olympics medals. An excerpt from the magazine read Hassan saying:

“I’m crazy curious and I’m also a high risk taker.”

Sharing the cover photo of the magazine on his X profile, Johnson commended Hassan.

"Absolute legend! Loves to race, loves challenges, not afraid to lose," he wrote.

Even before Hassan competed at the French capital, Johnson lauded the athlete's decision to race in three events, stating it would have been "insane" for any other athlete.

Michael Johnson pays tribute to Ralph Mann as the Olympic medalist passes away at 75

Michael Johnson speaks during the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by /Getty Images for Laureus)

Michael Johnson recently paid tribute to former Olympic medalist Ralph Mann, who passed away at the age of 75.

Mann breathed his last breath on January 2, 2025. He competed in the 400m hurdles event at the 1972 Munich Olympics, securing a silver medal in the event. Johnson expressed his gratitude towards Mann's positive impact on athletes and coaches.

"Ralph Mann had a positive influence on the careers of many athletes and coaches," Johnson wrote. "It was his work that helped my coach and I realize my unorthodox sprinting style was actually an advantage."

Apart from the Olympic medal in 1972, Mann bagged a gold and a silver medal in the same event at the 1971 and 1975 Pan American Games, respectively.