Kenya’s Hellen Obiri was third, having lost touch in the final kilometres as a select lead group splintered once they passed 40km of the 42.19km (26.2 mile) course.
Hassan, who was born in Ethiopia but represents the Netherlands after arriving there as a child, is also a former world champion in distances ranging from 1,500m to 10,000m.
In a discussion on social media about the various athletics performances of the Olympics – which included categories like most improved, game changer, breakout star and fan favourite – Michael Johnson simply replied: “Sifan Hassan takes all the awards”.
Zatopek, who was from the Czech Republic, won gold medals in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics after also winning the track double in London in 1948.
To win medals in all three events had been considered impossible in the modern era until now, but Hassan has defied all conventional thinking over the space of what was just over five days following Monday night’s 5,000m final.
Clara Evans was the top Team GB marathon finisher, coming 46th in 2hr 33min 01sec after only being called up to the team last week. “It was hard and it was hot,” she said. “I wasn’t going to be running here last weekend, then I got the call last Saturday, so to come first Brit at a weeks’ notice, I’m just really proud of myself.
“I wasn’t expecting the phone call. I’ve been prepping for my wedding next Saturday, so this has been a really crazy couple of weeks. I didn’t think I’d ever make an Olympics, I didn’t think I was good enough, but I’m so proud and happy to be in this team.”