'My last year' - Mo Farah targets 'one last shot' at London Marathon, admits 2023 could be his last year
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Updated 31/01/2023 at 11:58 GMT
“I think 2023 will be my last year,” said Mo Farah as he announced plans to run the London Marathon in April. Farah, one of Britain’s most successful athletes in history, has struggled with injuries in recent years and will turn 40 in March. He boasts four Olympic gold medals, six world titles and a host of European and national records on the road and track.
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Mo Farah admits the end of his running career is near as he unveiled plans for “one last shot” at the London Marathon in 2023.
The four-time Olympic champion, who will be 40 when he steps onto the start line on April 23, said he will turn to coaching when he retires. Farah withdrew from last year’s race in October with a hip injury.
“It’s been an amazing career and taking part in the London Marathon is a very big deal,” he said. “I was gutted not to race last year and I just want to give it one more shot.
“I’m not a spring chicken any more. You can’t keep coming back in the right shape and I’d love to be able to finish it at home. We are getting closer to the end of my career, for sure.”
Farah, who has been ravaged with injuries over the past three seasons, refused to rule out a swansong appearance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
“I’m not going to go to the Olympics [in Paris next year] and I think 2023 will be my last year,” he said.
“But if it came down to it towards the end of the year and you did get picked for your country, I’d never turn that down.
“But like I say, I’m just taking it one race at a time and getting ready for the London Marathon, which is a big one.”
Farah dominated global long-distance running between 2011 and 2017, winning 5000m and 10,000m Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, while also landing six world titles on the track.
His switch to the road sparked excitement he could challenge for major marathon titles, but despite smashing the British record at the Chicago Marathon in 2018, it has not quite worked out.
“It’s not long to go until I retire, and when I do finally stop I’d love to show what you can do with hard work and grafting,” he added.
“I have my coaching licence and would love to go down that route and give back, particularly to British athletes."
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Farah holds the British record over 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon. He also had the 3,000m record until Sam Atkin broke it in Boston last weekend.
His marathon best, 2:05:11, is over two minutes clear of any Brit in history. However, it has not been enough to put him in contention in the biggest races as Eliud Kipchoge and a fleet of East Africans continue to push what was thought possible over 26.2 miles.
The London Marathon is returning to its traditional springtime slot in 2023, putting to bed its temporary autumn home amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
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