Mo Farah, the renowned British athlete, wrapped up his illustrious career in competitive racing with a fourth-place finish at the Great North Run half-marathon held in Newcastle, England. Donning a bib labeled “Sir Mo,” Farah completed the race in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 28 seconds. As he made his way down the final stretch, he exchanged high-fives with numerous spectators along the route.
Reflecting on his remarkable journey, Farah shared his thoughts with the BBC, stating, “Today, there were many emotions running through my mind. Ending my career here in Newcastle holds special significance for me. Having won this event six times and participating right after the Olympics and World Championships, it feels truly meaningful. It’s an emotional moment for me—I now get to cherish quality time with my wife and children. Running has been my sole focus, and only when you experience defeat do you truly value your victories. I’ve struggled with injuries in recent years.”
Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia, the reigning world marathon champion in 2022, achieved victory in the race with an impressive time of 59 minutes and 58 seconds, redeeming himself after a disappointing performance in the marathon at the recent Budapest World Championships, where he failed to finish. In the women’s event, Peres Jepchirchir emerged as the winner, completing the race in 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Farah, aged 40, boasts an incredible career record, claiming six world champion titles and four Olympic gold medals. He secured the gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, repeating his double victory from the 2013 and 2015 World Championships.
Opening up about his challenging childhood, Farah revealed, “I have shared my personal story of the hardships I faced as a child. Without an outlet to keep me engaged and happy, it would have been incredibly tough for me.” Born in Somalia, Farah disclosed in 2022 that he was illegally transported to the UK at the age of 9 and forced into domestic servitude.
Source: Reuters
