That's what being a world record holder is! You can just sit around, retire even, and everyone still has to race you. In every big race, no matter who wins, YOUR time is shown on screen for comparison.
outside of her 3:50, her best 1500 outdoors was 3:54, so for her to run 3:55 and 3:56 in 2019 probably was seen as a return to form rather than a bad thing. Also 3:55 by an American is a great time, not good, as no American woman has even broken 3:56 except Houlihan who was obviously busted for doping. Who could run 3:55 this year besides Kipyegon, Tsegay, and Muir? Maybe Hassan now that she is returning to form? It is still a medal competitive time.
She was selected for world indoors in 2018, and was injured with a stress fracture at the end of the 2019 season so obviously not selected. Since then has barely ran track and not been competitive, so thus not selected.
OLYMPIC CHAMPION AT THE START OF TCS AMSTERDAM MARATHON The start list of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon features a striking name: Almaz Ayana. The 30-year-old Ethiopian athlete, who won gold in the 10,000 meters at the 2016 Games, will make her marathon debut on Sunday 16 October. Another first is the current world record holder in the 1500 meters: Genzebe Dibaba. Sports organization Le Champion also reports that CyBrian Kotut, Lemi Berhanu and Titus Kipruto are the fastest men at the start in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. They have all won a big marathon at one time or another. Almaz Ayana is one of the greatest long-distance talents of all time. 2016 was the year she was phenomenal: she won Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in a new world record in the 10,000 meters (29.17.45) and bronze in the 5,000 meters. In that year she also became attractive as IAAF Athlete of the Year. The 30-year-old Ethiopian athlete previously became world champion twice and won the final classification of the Diamond Leaugue twice. After several years of absence due to the arrival of a son, Ayana is ready to complete her impressive list of achievements. 31-year-old Genzebe Dibaba holds the world record in the 1500 meters (3.50.07, Monaco 2015). She also has an Olympic silver medal in her pocket (2016, Rio de Janeiro). In the year 2015, when she became world champion in the 1500 meters, her brilliant performance was named IAAF Athlete of the Year. She will take on the challenge on the classic distance for the first time. These fast ladies are being divorced by Tsehay Gemechu, among others. Their 23-year-old compatriot has a personal best of 65.01 in the half marathon and was fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
Yes, I went to her IAAF profile. She did a road 10k this year. I know she had a foot issue prior to Doha 2019.
So, what else?
(If we ask her why this has happened, will she plead the Fifth?)
Foot issue was the least of her problems. Like Marcel Jacobs she had to find another "nutritionist", but couldn't find a good one. Hence the degradation in performance over night.