Mo Farah noted that the crowd's persistent support kept him from giving up despite finishing in a timing of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 28 seconds.
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British long-distance runner and one of the greatest British athletes, Mo Farah, finished ninth in his final London Marathon in the 2023 edition of the event. The 40-year-old competitor acknowledged that he would be retiring in September but was grateful to have finished the race, mainly because of the cheering spectators who lined the course from Greenwich to the Mall. Farah, a household name of the 2012 London Olympics, was surpassed by two other British athletes: 25-year-old Emile Cairess, who made an impressive debut by placing sixth, and Phil Sesemann, who earned eighth place while managing his running career with his duties as a junior doctor for the NHS. It is interesting to note that Cairess and Sesemann frequently train together in Leeds.
Mo Farah started strong at the London Marathon 2023 but struggled after 14 miles as his legs grew heavy and Cairess passed him. Instead of at Buckingham Palace, the ceremonial changing of the guard happened just past Tower Bridge. Farah discussed his preparation for the race and said he was feeling optimistic and thought he would finish in between 2:05 and 2:07. He eventually realized that it was time to end his career since his body was not supporting him too. Mo Farah noted that the crowd’s persistent support kept him from giving up despite finishing in a timing of 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 28 seconds, which was his career’s lowest.
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“If it wasn’t for the crowd, at some point I would have dropped out,” Mo Farah stated. “That’s what kept me going. It was amazing support. Part of me wanted to cry. But the people were amazing, even in the rain, to line the streets. It’s what has kept me going for so long throughout my career. “I will miss that feeling. I am emotional today. London has been so great to me over the years and I wanted to be here to say thank you to the crowd, ” he added. The emotional athlete shared his gratitude for the crowd’s enduring support in London over the years and admitted that he would miss the experience.
Farah has decided to finish his running career by competing in the Great North Run 2023 on Sep 10, a tournament which he has won six times. He expressed his appreciation for his family’s continuous support throughout his journey and that he intended to spend more time with them in the future. Aside from that, Farah is eager to support young athletes and give back to the athletic community that helped build his incredible career. Mo Farah is the most successful track and field athlete from Great Britain having won four gold medals at the Olympic Games.
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