The incomparable Sir Mo Farah will race in London for the final time of his illustrious career at The Big Half on Sunday 3 September, bidding farewell to competitive racing in the capital city where he has enjoyed some of the greatest moments in British sporting history.

Farah, the most decorated athlete in British track and field history, announced at April’s TCS London Marathon that 2023 would be his final year before retirement, bringing an end to a glittering athletics career that has included four Olympic golds and six World Championship titles at 5000m and 10,000m.

Many of Farah’s most famous successes have come in his hometown of London, including two gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games when he was part of the historic Super Saturday in the Olympic Stadium. He also won gold in the 10,000m at the 2017 World Championships in London, signing off his major championships career in style.

Farah started his long-running career as a junior athlete in London and won the London Mini Marathon in 1999 and 2000. He also created history by winning the Vitality London 10,000 a record seven times between 2009 and 2019, whilst his London Marathon career high came in 2018 when he sprinted down The Mall to rapturous cheers from the London crowds, finishing third in a British record 2:06:22.

He has also won The Big Half a record three times, including the first-ever race in 2018, and most recently in 2022 (pictured above). He will return to the streets of London looking to become the first athlete to win the event, which is known as London’s community half marathon, for a record fourth time.

Farah said: “I’m excited to run my last ever London race at The Big Half. It will be bittersweet, knowing it will be the last time I race competitively in my hometown, but it’s always such a great day and I know the London crowds will be cheering me on, as they always do. I look forward to being back in London and hope to bring home the win one final time.”

Spencer Barden, Head of Elite Athletes at London Marathon Events, organisers of The Big Half, said: “It’s fantastic to have Sir Mo leading the field at this year’s The Big Half. Mo has had a phenomenal career and everyone at London Marathon Events wishes him all the best in his retirement. Before that though, we hope he signs off his racing career in London with another record-breaking win at The Big Half.”

The task for Farah has been made tougher as The Big Half is the official trial to select the team for the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships Half Marathon. The first three British men and women to finish The Big Half with the qualifying times (62:30 for men and 71:30 for women) guarantee their places in the Great Britain team in Riga, Latvia on Sunday 1 October.

Previous results and news stories are at the runABC race listing here.

Photo: Sir Mo Farah winning in 2022 courtesy of The Big Half