Fly Mo! Farah adds 10,000m World Championship crown to Olympic title with thrilling victory in Moscow
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Mo Farah underlined his status as Great Britain’s greatest ever distance runner by winning the world 10,000 metres title in Moscow.
The double Olympic champion exacted revenge over Ibrahim Jeilan in a pulsating race, taking the lead with two laps to go and refusing to relinquish his lead as he won his fourth global gold medal.
No Briton has ever achieved that feat and, with the chance to retain his world 5,000m title still to come this week, Farah could yet add more gold to his impressive collection.
World champion: Mo Farah avenged his defeat to Ibrahim Jeilan in Daegu two years ago, holding off the Ethopian to claim a thrilling victory
Mo worries: Farah celebrates in his customary fashion, delighting the Moscow crowd with a 'Mobot'
Two years in Daegu he was passed by Jeilan with metres remaining; a look of pure agony consuming Farah’s face as he realised he would have to settle for silver. He responded by winning 5,000m gold and both Olympic titles and, in 2013, it was the Briton looking over his shoulder at the man from Ethiopia behind him.
Farah won in 27mins 21.71secs, a 54.49sec last lap proving too much for Jeilan, who took silver, and bronze medallist Paul Kipngetich Tanui from Kenya, who did most of the early running.
The Mobot: Mo Farah celebrates his gold
Proud moment: Mo Farah celebrates with step-daughter Rihanna
A delighted Farah told the BBC: ‘I had the experience from a couple of years ago and this time I saw him (Jeilan) coming at the bell so I knew he was always behind me so it was important I had something left and it was nice to win it and beat him this time after finishing second (in 2011).
‘I nearly went down a couple of times but thank God I didn’t go down and I just managed to cover every move. It was important that it was me and my training partner Galen Rupp working together. We knew from the pace that the guys knew we’ve got speed so they were going out there to take a lot out of me.
‘I didn’t want to lose again. I remember a couple of years ago I was second and I was just digging in, digging in and making sure I didn’t over-stride, that important. I kept looking across and you could see in my eyes, just making sure they didn’t come after me.
‘It was nice to come out here and win it. That was the one missing. It was definitely well worth it.’
Bowled over: Farah is overcome with emotion after the latest victory of his glittering career
Untouchable: Farah beams after claiming gold
The Kenyan trio – Tanui, Bedan Karoki Muchiri and Kenneth Kiprop Kipkemoi – had worked hard to push the pace as Farah stayed clear of trouble at the back of the field for the first two kilometres, but the east Africans never did enough damage the hurt the Briton.
Buoyed by the confidence boost of his 1500m British record, and safe in the knowledge he could run close to 50 seconds for the last 400m if required, Farah paid close attention to the pack but simply bided his time; running apparently effortlessly, as if simply going for an afternoon jog.
Muchiri tried to make another break with seven and a half laps remaining, but Farah, 30, covered his brief surge and was back in contention with 1800m to go.
Flying the flag: Farah got Great Britain's World Championships off to the perfect start
Over the moon: Farah kisses the track after claiming victory
Americans Dathan Ritzenhein and Galen Rupp tried again with 1000m remaining but Farah quickly reeled them back in. He did not waiver even when Rupp, his training partner in Portland, Oregon, barged past him as the pack approached the last 800m, retaking a lead that he simply would not give up.
No British man has ever won the world 10,000m title but, then again, we have never before seen an athlete like Farah.
MO FARAH FACTFILE
1983: March 23 - Born in Mogadishu, Somalia. He would arrive in Britain as a refugee at the age of eight.
2001: Wins first major title by winning the 5,000 metres at the European Junior Athletics Championships in Athens.
2006: Wins silver in the 5,000m at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Wins the European Cross Country Championship in December of the same year.
2007: Finishes sixth in the 5,000m at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
2008: Fails to reach the final of the 5,000m at the Beijing Olympics.
2009: Breaks the British 3,000m record twice in a matter of weeks early in the year and goes on to take gold in the same event at the European Indoor Championships. Finishes seventh in the 5,000m at the World Championships in Berlin, the top European.
2010: July 27 - Wins the 10,000m at the European Championships in Barcelona.
July 31 - Completes a distance running double by claiming gold in the 5,000m.
August 19 - At a Diamond League meeting in Zurich, sets a new British record with a time of 12:57.94 in the 5,000m.
July 31 - Completes a distance running double by claiming gold in the 5,000m.
August 19 - At a Diamond League meeting in Zurich, sets a new British record with a time of 12:57.94 in the 5,000m.
2011: February - Announces he is relocating to Portland, Oregon, to train under Alberto Salazar.
February 19 - Sets a British indoor record with a time of 13:10.60 in the 5,000m at Birmingham.
March 5 - Wins gold in the 3,000m at the European Indoor Championships.
March 20 - Wins the NYC Half Marathon with a time of one hour 23 seconds after entering late when a planned 10,000m event in New Zealand was cancelled due to earthquake damage.
June 3 - Sets a new British and European record of 26:46.57 to win the 10,000m at a Diamond League meeting in Eugene.
July 22 - Sets a British record of 12:53.11 in the 5,000m at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
August 28 - Wins 10,000m silver at the World Championships in Daegu.
September 4 - Wins 5,000m gold at the World Championships in Daegu.
February 19 - Sets a British indoor record with a time of 13:10.60 in the 5,000m at Birmingham.
March 5 - Wins gold in the 3,000m at the European Indoor Championships.
March 20 - Wins the NYC Half Marathon with a time of one hour 23 seconds after entering late when a planned 10,000m event in New Zealand was cancelled due to earthquake damage.
June 3 - Sets a new British and European record of 26:46.57 to win the 10,000m at a Diamond League meeting in Eugene.
July 22 - Sets a British record of 12:53.11 in the 5,000m at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
August 28 - Wins 10,000m silver at the World Championships in Daegu.
September 4 - Wins 5,000m gold at the World Championships in Daegu.
2012: March 11 - Misses out on a medal in the 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, finishing fourth.
June 2 - Runs fastest 5,000m of the year, clocking 12:56.98 to win the Diamond League race in Eugene, beating Olympic champion and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele.
June 27 - Becomes the first man to retain the 5,000m title at the European Championships by winning gold in Helsinki.
August 4 - Wins the 10,000m Olympic title at London 2012.
August 11 - Adds the 5,000m title for a second London 2012 gold.
December 30: Awarded a CBE.
June 2 - Runs fastest 5,000m of the year, clocking 12:56.98 to win the Diamond League race in Eugene, beating Olympic champion and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele.
June 27 - Becomes the first man to retain the 5,000m title at the European Championships by winning gold in Helsinki.
August 4 - Wins the 10,000m Olympic title at London 2012.
August 11 - Adds the 5,000m title for a second London 2012 gold.
December 30: Awarded a CBE.
2013: August 10 - Wins gold in the World Championships 10,000m in Moscow.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2388754/Mo-Farah-wins-10-000m-World-Championship-crown-Moscow.html#ixzz2bbVtM7J0
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