Great Manchester Run: Sir Mo Farah to compete at 10k event in city for last time before he retires

Manchester sport fans will have one last chance to see an all-time great British athlete compete on the streets of the city before he retires. Iconic distance runner Sir Mo Farah has confirmed he will come to the Great Manchester Run to run the 10k for the final time.

Sir Mo is currently bringing his illustrious career in athletics to a close and says he intends to retire after the Great North Run in September. He came ninth in his final London Marathon on Sunday (23 April) and says he will make his last appearance in Manchester on 21 May. Sir Mo previously won the event in 2018 in a memorable sprint finish and the race organisers are urging Mancunians to come out in force to see him in action one last time.

What has Sir Mo Farah said about the Great Manchester Run?

Sir Mo is currently in the process of bringing the curtain down on his career on the track and the road which has seen him win four Olympic gold medals and six World Championship titles. This makes him the most successful British athlete in modern Olympic history. He has won both the 5,000m and the 10,000m at back-to-back Olympics and World Championships. His successes in road running include the 2018 Chicago Marathon.

The 40-year-old has said the Great North Run in the North East will be his final elite competition, but before that he is returning one last time to Manchester. In 2018 he took the 10k event on the city’s streets, beating Ugandan Moses Kipsiro in a memorable finish in the last 100 metres of the race, crossing the line in a time of 28 minutes and 27 seconds.

He said he is looking forward to racing in Manchester one last time.

Sir Mo said: “There is something incredibly special about racing in Manchester, the support from the city for me has always been phenomenal. I’m looking forward to seeing the crowds out on the streets and the thousands of other runners who will be running the half marathon and 10k. It will probably be quite emotional, but I’m so happy to have the chance to race in Manchester again before I retire.”

What have the organisers said about Sir Mo Farah taking part?

Founder of the Great Run Company, Sir Brendan Foster, said: “We’re delighted Mo will be back in Manchester in May, and we’re looking forward to a memorable elite race.

“Mo is an icon of British sport; he has achieved incredible things over his remarkable career and the British public have really taken him to their hearts.

“We’re honoured he has chosen the AJ Bell Great North Run as his last ever race. I know the people of Manchester and the North East will take these opportunities to come out and support him one last time, in recognition of the incredible performances he’s given us over the years.”

About the Great Manchester Run

The Great Manchester Run on 21 May will see around 25,000 runners taking to the city’s streets, with participants having the choice of the 10k or the half marathon.

Both races start on Portland Street and pass a host of Manchester landmarks as the routes run through the city before getting to the finish line on Deansgate.

There is usually an excellent atmosphere on the big day with thousands of spectators lining the route to cheer the runners on, live music and entertainment zones dotted along the route and charity cheering squads. The Great Manchester Run is now an established part of the city’s calendar, with the 2023 edition being the 20th to be run.

There is still time to join the runners on the start line if you fancy lacing up your running shoes and taking on a challenge. Find out more on the Great Manchester Run website.