Mo Farah to take part in Port-Gentil 10km before London Marathon

Mo Farah has confirmed that he will compete in Gabon’s Port-Gentil 10km race scheduled on April 8, 2023. This is two weeks before what is believed to be his farewell performance in the London Marathon. Farah, who declared in January that he will retire in 2023, is presently honing his skills in Ethiopia in preparation for the London Marathon on April 23. He doesn’t know if the marathon will be his final competition. The British marathon record holder said in a brief video that he has been training well in Ethiopia and is eager to test his stamina over 10 kilometers in Gabon on April 8 before heading back to his hometown for the London Marathon. Due to a hip injury, Farah was unable to participate in the London Marathon in 2022. This year’s race will be his first full marathon since 2019.

How has Mo Farah fared in a 10km race before?

In 2010, Mo Farah ran a timing of 27 minutes and 44 seconds for 10 kilometers on the road. At the Vitality London 10,000 last year, he finished second, but club runner Ellis Cross defeated him in the final 10 kilometers. Four of the five fastest marathoners in history are set to give the 2018 Chicago Marathon champion tough competition this year. The British athlete finished third in the 2018 London Marathon.

Mo Farah, who has won six world championship championships and four Olympic gold medals, is recognized as one of the greatest long-distance runners in history. In 2014, he switched to the marathon, and since then, he has established British records for the race. Due to his associations with contentious coach Alberto Salazar, who was sentenced to a four-year doping suspension in 2019, the 38-year-old athlete has been under fire recently. Throughout his career,  Farah has been true to the sport, maintained his innocence, and has not tested positive for any illegal substances.

Read More-Two-time Olympian faces eight-year ban for doping and false documentation

Who else is participating in the London Marathon 2023?

Four of the five fastest athletes in history Kenenisa Bekele, Kelvin Kiptum, Birhanu Legese, and Mosinet Geremew are expected to compete in the elite men’s race. Bekele has received many Olympic medals, while Kiptum established a new marathon record at the 2022 Valencia Marathon. Amos Kipruto, the 2022 champion of the London Marathon, is also expected to be back in 2023. Tamirat Tola, who clinched the marathon competition at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Geoffrey Kamworor, who has claimed two New York City Marathons titles, Leul Gebresilase, who came in second at the 2022 London Marathon, and Vincent Kipchumba, who placed second in both the 2020 and 2021 competitions, are among the other contestants.

Read More-Amos Kipruto, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, TCS London Marathon 2022: Find out the full results