FARAH AIMS TO SIGN OFF IN STYLE
But you have to appreciate what you have and do the best that you can. That’s what I was taught in my early years.
“I’m a very lucky person in life. I have a gift that not many people have – to be able to know who I was and where I came from as a youngster.”
Where he came from was war-torn Somalia, arriving in Britain as an eight-year-old, who could not speak much English, to join his father.
Where it has taken him is becoming a knight of the realm and rewarded handsomely – having banked millions in earnings and
SPORT IN BRIEF
ONLY ONE MORE TO GO: Farah starts his reign on the track by winning the 5,000m in Daegu in 2011 sponsorship – from taking on and beating the world’s best for six years.
Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah is yet to officially receive his gong at Buckingham Palace – that will come later in the year when he finally has time to breathe and reflect on his career.
It is a career that did not look destined to be one of greatness when he missed out on a medal at the Worlds in 2007 and 2009 and did not even make the Olympic 5,000m final in Beijing in 2008.
But at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010, it all came together as he won the 5,000m-10,000m double for the first time. Then came the move to Oregon to team up with coach Alberto Salazar – and the transformation has been nothing less than spectacular.
After being outsprinted by Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jeilan in the 10,000m in Daegu, Farah has simply been unbeatable, winning six world titles and four at the Olympics.
The first two of those, of course, came in London five years ago before he successfully defended
TODAY’S FINALS
EVENING 7.05 8.05 8.15 8.20 8.45 9.30 9.50
High Jump (w) 100m hurdles (w) Javelin (m) 5000m (m) 1500m (m) – last decathlon event 4x100m relay (w) 4x100m relay (m)
both titles in Rio. He now has five European outdoor golds and two European indoor crowns.
“It has been a long career,” said Farah, who will run in Birmingham next Sunday and then Zurich on August 24 before switching to the road. “From the time when I was a child, running around, going to the English schools.
“What is keeping me on the top? It is about staying hungry, staying humble, being nice, being normal, being who you are. No one is going to change me.
“I want to leave on a high because that’s the perfect note. But it isn’t going to be easy in the 5,000m. It’s going to be tough for me.
“There are a lot more guys. There are a lot more decisions to be made in a shorter race. In the 10,000m you’ve got 25 laps so you can relax a bit if you’re further back to make that decision and work around.
“In the 5,000m, if you’re not there at a certain point, or if someone’s going to do something and you’re not there, that’s it – it’s gone.”
Farah will be gone as a championship runner on the track tonight but surely with one more gold.