On Monday September 11, 2023, Britain’s Mo Farah concluded his impressive racing career by finishing fourth in the Great North Run half-marathon held in Newcastle on Sunday.
Donning a bib that displayed the name “Sir Mo,” the six-time winner of the Great North Run completed the race in one hour, three minutes, and 28 seconds. Along the way, he exchanged high-fives with many spectators lining the route towards the finish line.
In an interview with the BBC, Farah expressed his thoughts on the day, stating, “I had a lot on my mind today. It was important for me to finish my career here in Newcastle. Having won this event six times and participating after the Olympics and World Championships, the emotions were overwhelming.”
“It’s a very emotional moment for me. Now, I will be able to spend more time with my wife and kids. Running has been my life. When you win something, you don’t fully comprehend its value until you experience defeat. I’ve faced numerous challenges due to injuries during the past few years,” added Farah.
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, the reigning world marathon champion from 2022, emerged as the winner with an impressive time of 59 minutes and 58 seconds, thus erasing his disappointing marathon performance at the recent World Championships in Budapest where he did not complete the race.
Meanwhile, Peres Jepchirchir clinched victory in the women’s race, crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 45 seconds.
The 40-year-old Farah boasts an astounding record, with six world championship titles and four Olympic titles to his name. He triumphed in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the 2013 and 2015 world championships, replicating the feat at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sharing his journey, Farah reflected on his difficult childhood, stating, “I have spoken about the challenges I faced as a child. If I didn’t have something that brought me joy and happiness, overcoming those difficulties would have been immensely challenging.” Born in Somalia, Farah revealed in 2022 that he was brought to the UK illegally and was forced to work as a domestic servant at the tender age of nine.
Reporting by Lori Ewing
Edited by Christian Radnedge
