Mo Farah: Four-time Olympic champion to compete in London Marathon in 2019
Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Britain's Mo Farah will run in next year's London Marathon on 28 April, organisers have announced.
The four-time Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion was third in this year's race, his first over the 26.2-mile distance since quitting the track.
Farah, 35, finished in two hours, six minutes and 21 seconds to break Steve Jones' 33-year-old British record.
Farah won October's Chicago Marathon in a new European record and wants to race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Racing in London is very special to me and the London Marathon gives me the chance to run in front of my fans, on my home roads, where the atmosphere is like nothing else," he said.
"I feel I have made great strides in the past year, finishing third in London in April, and winning my first major marathon in Chicago in October. That and breaking both the British and European records has given me the confidence that I can compete against the best marathon runners in the world."
The Somali-born Londoner won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2017 four months after winning his sixth world title on the track - the 10,000m in London - and then announcing his retirement to focus on marathon running.
Farah won 10 Olympic and World gold medals and two silvers during six years of track domination at major championships and also claimed a record fifth successive Great North Run in September.
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I went to the Athletics World Championships in London last year and when Mo emerged for his race (just a heat, not the final) the place erupted ... true athletics fans appreciate his dedication and achievements whereas jealous people try to undermine him ... childish.
Recently received my 6th (6th!) rejection VirginLondonMarathon running top.
Mo applies twice and gets in twice.
I smell something fishy.....
1) Kipchoge is a once in a lifetime marathon athlete and what he achieves is out of this world but does that mean everyone else should give up ... where is your competitive spirit?
2) If you had got to the top of your profession and someone offered you £500k to showcase it, would you really turn it down?
Grow up.
"Who cares about some men running around the streets of London?"
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Let's start with BARTS and hundreds of other charities that will receive millions for people desperate for help.
I think the ballot would be fairer if those not run before get first dibs.
Anyone with a brain would know that elite athletes don't have to go into the ballot, that would be stupid.
Why is this 'BIG' news??