Britain’s greatest ever distance runner Mo Farah will receive a hero’s send-off from fans and athletes when he runs his last ever UK track race at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham tomorrow.
Farah, will compete over 3,000m at the Alexander Stadium, at the finale of a huge summer of global athletics meetings in the UK.
The double, double Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m champion says he’s ready for an unforgettable day.
Farah said: “It’s definitely going to be emotional. I’ve had a long career and to come here year after year, it’s been something special. But, at some point, anything we do in life must come to an end and this is it. It’s definitely going to be afterwards [that it sinks in]. I just have to take care of the race and respect my opposition. I have a job to do Sunday and to do well.”
Farah won gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m at the World Championships in London, to take his tally of world titles to six. He will be among 19 world champions and 40 medallists from London competing at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham.
He said: “I love Birmingham and I love the crowd. I remember competing here as a youngster, at the European Indoors, at the World Indoors and it’s been brilliant. Birmingham gets behind you, the crowd really get behind you and it’s a great city. Everybody comes together and I really do enjoy competing in Birmingham.”
Britain’s greatest ever distance runner is aiming to finish on a high at the Alexander Stadium.
He said: “It’s important for me to go out with a win. I think people realise that it’s not as easy as me just turning up, you’ve got to be in the best shape. I’m in great shape and if I could come away with a win that would be great.”
Niels de Vos, Chief Executive of UK Athletics said: “Mo Farah is thought by many commentators to be the greatest distance athlete of all time. I could not agree more. His achievements for Britain has been outstanding and I am sure that the Birmingham public will want to pay their own special tribute to him at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham. We are planning to commemorate his final track race in the UK in style on Sunday in what will be one of the highlights of the summer.”
The Müller Grand Prix Birmingham is supported by Birmingham City Council and takes place exactly one week after the end of the IAAF World Championships in London.
For tickets to see the world’s best athletes at The Müller Grand Prix Birmingham go to <link http: www.britishathletics.org.uk>www.britishathletics.org.uk