To have achieved what I have has been incredible. There’s no words to tell the journey that I’ve been on
Farah is desperate to finish on a high for sake of his kids
MO FARAH wants to walk away a winner tonight to give his four kids a memory they’ll never forget. After landing the 10,000 metres title in London last weekend the 34-year-old can end his top-class career with a lucky seventh world title from the 5000m final. Emotions will be running high, Sir Mo confessed, when he steps out in front of his hometown crowd for one last hurrah and bids to write the perfect closing chapter. But the double London 2012 gold medallist claims the chance to take his family on a second lap of honour in eight days would be the dream goodbye. He said: “If I’m going to close in London I wanted them to be a part of it to celebrate with me – we do everything together. “For me, when I took my kids to the track last week that was beautiful. Five years ago who would have thought that the twins in mummy’s tummy would be on the track? I think I’m a very lucky person in life. “I have a gift that not many people have – to know who I was and where I came from as a youngster. To have achieved what I have has been incredible. “I don’t think there’s enough words to explain the journey and everything. But you have to appreciate what you have and do the best you can. I was taught that in my early years. Appreciate it.”
Four Olympic golds underline just how far the one-time refugee from Somalia has come, even since the 2008 Games when he went to Beijing and crashed out in the semis.
There’s been unlimited questions since he opted afterwards to go Stateside to work with controversial coach Alberto Salazar in Oregon.
But Mo, Version 2.0, was unleashed when he romped to a brilliant 3000m win at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall the next winter. And Scots fans have been treated to his regular showings at the Edinburgh cross-country before seeing him shine at home and abroad.
Now, with a full-time switch to the roads in sight, he admitted it’s hard to think the clock’s ticking down.
He said: “It’s normal to get emotional but at this point in my career I want to be able to come back for the 5000m, that’s my plan. After that I’m signed up for a few more races – Birmingham, Zurich, the Great North Run – but following that I’m just going to get away somewhere.”
With the beleaguered British team in need of a little stardust to boost their medal count Farah will have to fight off an army of young guns ready to deny him a golden farewell, including Scot Andy Butchart.
But he said: “I want to leave on a high but it isn’t going to be easy in the 5000m. It’s going to be tough as there are a lot more guys. There’s a lot more decisions to be made in a shorter race. In the 10k you’ve got 25 laps so you can relax a little if you’re further back.
“In the 5k, 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 had even more to get excited about this week – and took to social media to tell the world about it when he heard that Twitter had given him his own emoji.
He Tweeted “So excited to have my own Mobot emoji!!” followed by a blizzard of hashtags.
Farah is a 34-year-old married father of four, he is the most successful British athlete of all time, he is unbeaten in six years and has dealt with the loneliness that comes with spending half of every year away from his young family.
He has also coped with the blowback from serious allegations against his coach, Salazar, who remains under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Yet give him a Mobot emoji and he reacts like a kid in a sweetshop.
It may seem a tiny inconsequential detail in the make-up of the man but actually it offers quite a clue to his longevity.
He added: “To be honest what is keeping me on the top is being normal.
“It is about staying hungry, staying humble, being nice, being who you are. No one is going to change me.”