Sir Mo Farah finishes final race of illustrious career

Sir Mo Farah has finished the final race of his career in fourth place in the Great North Run.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist, who announced in April he would be retiring, ended his illustrious career in the North East half marathon run.

He finished the 13.1 mile race in 1:03:28 with Ethopia’s Tamirat Tola winning the men’s elite race, finishing just shy of the hour mark with a time of 59 minutes and 58 seconds.

Sir Mo, 40, who has previously won the race from Newcastle to South Shields six times, was greeted by crowds lining the Coast Road, offering high-fives as he approached the finish line.

“It’s been an amazing journey when I look back, there’s been so many messages from people all over the world saying thank you,” he said post-race.

“It’s a joy to see that because I just enjoyed what I did and I committed and continued to push myself to win medals again and again.

“To look back from the other side now and see people saying to you, this is what you’ve given us, this is what you’ve done is incredible to see.”

Sir Mo said it was time for him to “take a break” and retire from running, in order to enjoy himself and watch his football team, Arsenal Football Club, who he revealed he’d like to work for in some capacity.

Memorable highs and troubles in recent years

Considered one of the greatest runners of all time, Sir Mo has garnered the titles of ‘double double’ Olympic champion, World champion in the 10,000m and 5,000m and six-time European Champion throughout his career.

One of the most memorable highlights throughout Sir Mo’s career was winning two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics in front of a home crowd.

On a day dubbed “Super Saturday”, Sir Mo won the 10,000m on the same night fellow Team GB athletes Jessica Ennis-Hill (heptathlon) and Greg Rutherford (long jump) also struck gold.

“You’re doing it right in front of your hometown, and the stadium is going crazy, as it is 75,000 people shouting out your name,” he recalled.

“I got to the front, the people are shouting your name and when I’d got to the back it’d be a little quieter. Honestly, that’s what keeps me getting out of bed year after year, it’s that moment.”

The success landed Sir Mo as a household name who transcended athletics, with the ‘Mobot’ – when the athlete raises his hands above his head in a ‘M’ shape after a win – becoming an iconic symbol of his success.

In 2016, Sir Mo completed a historic double double, defending his titles from London – despite falling in the 10,000m.

Recent years have proved difficult for the long-distance runner, after his failure to qualify for the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 was followed by injury troubles.

He also had to pull out of the London Marathon in 2022 due to a hip injury.

Difficult childhood

Away from running, last year, Sir Mo revealed he was “trafficked” into the UK illegally under the name of another child.

The athlete said that he decided to speak out about his past last year because of his family.

“Really it was my family who did it for me,” he said, “because my kids were asking me questions every day. I owed it to them and owed it to myself to be honest with them.”

“I don’t think any child should go through what I did. Child trafficking is a huge problem and for me, it was more of a self-release, even though I’m this man I am, a guy who wins everything, I was struggling mentally.”

Sir Mo married Tania Farah in 2010. The couple has three children together and a stepdaughter from a previous relationship of Mrs Farah’s.

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