Date: Sunday, September 10, 2023
Location: Newcastle, England
Mo Farah, the renowned athlete from Great Britain, concluded his remarkable career in competitive racing on Sunday with a commendable fourth-place finish at the Great North Run half-marathon.
Donning a bib labeled “Sir Mo,” Farah, a six-time winner of the Great North Run, crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 28 seconds. Along the home straight, he shared high-fives with numerous spectators cheering him on.
In an interview with the BBC, Farah expressed, “Today, my mind was filled with various emotions. Ending my career in Newcastle, where I have achieved victory six times and following my participation in the Olympics and World Championships – it is truly overwhelming.”
Reflecting on his journey, he added, “It is an incredibly emotional moment. I am now looking forward to spending quality time with my wife and children. Running has been my life. When you win, you don’t fully grasp the magnitude of the accomplishment until you experience defeat. These last few years have been challenging due to my battle with injuries.”
Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia, the reigning world marathon champion of 2022, secured victory with an impressive time of 59 minutes and 58 seconds, putting behind his disappointing performance at last month’s Budapest marathon, where he was unable to finish the race.
In the women’s category, Peres Jepchirchir emerged as the champion, completing the race in 1 hour and 6 minutes.
At the age of 40, Mo Farah boasts an outstanding record as a six-time world champion and four-time Olympic champion. He achieved gold medals in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as in the 2013 and 2015 world championships.
Opening up about his personal journey, he shared, “I have previously shared my story of the hardships I faced as a child. Without having something that brings joy and purpose to my life, it would have been an incredibly challenging path.”
Farah, who was born in Somalia, bravely revealed in 2022 that he was unlawfully transported to the U.K. at the age of 9 and compelled to work as a domestic servant.
