Mo Farah’s final appearance at a major athletics championships ended in disappointment in the London Stadium on Saturday night.
Having triumphed in the World Championship 10,000m a week earlier, he had to settle for a silver medal in the 5,000m final – Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris crossing the line first.
The 34-year-old, who won ten successive global titles between 2011 and 2017, will bow out of track athletics after the 5,000m at the Zurich Diamond League on August 24. After that, he will turn his attention to marathon running.
Ahead of the next chapter in his career, Farah has revealed he no longer wants to be known as ‘Mo’.
“My road name is Mohamed,” he explained after the 5,000m final in London.
“I just feel like Mo is done. I need to forget about what I’ve achieved and what I’ve done.”
Farah has also hit out at the media, accusing them of trying to “destroy” his achievements with allegations against his coach, Alberto Salazar, who is under investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
“History doesn’t lie,” he told his critics. “What I achieved over the years, people are proud of me. You can write what you like. The fact is I’ve achieved what I have from hard work and dedication. Putting my balls on the line year after year and delivering for my country.
“It’s like a broken record, repeating myself,” he added. “If I’ve crossed the line, if Alberto’s crossed the line, why bring it up year after year, making it into headlines? I’ve achieved what I have achieved. You’re trying to destroy it.”
