Former British Olympic champion Mo Farah announced on Tuesday that he is likely to retire this year, specifically after the end of the London Marathon, which is scheduled to be held next April.
“I will not participate in the Olympic Games and I believe that 2023 will be my last,” the runner announced in a statement released by the London Marathon organizers. “I have an amazing career and participation in the London Marathon means a lot to me.”
And the Briton, who will be forty years old during the marathon, added, “I am no longer young. I cannot return in good condition and I would like to be able to finish the marathon on my land.”
Farah, who ruled out the idea of participating in the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, can participate in the World Championships for the Mother of Games in Budapest between August 19 and 27.
In this regard, he said, “It will all depend on my body. I want to be on the starting line and see what I can do. I focus on one race at a time.”
“I will prepare, I will go to Ethiopia and I will train well to see what I can do in April,” he added, “but if I am chosen to represent my country at the end of the year, I will never refuse.”
Mo Farah won 4 Olympic gold medals in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races at the 2012 London Olympics and Rio de Janeiro 2016, in addition to winning six world titles in these two distances.
Farah, who was absent from the London Marathon last year due to a hip injury, never won the title, as during 3 participations he finished third in 2018 as his best result.