Mo Farah pulls out of London Marathon due to hip injury… but insists he intends to race next year
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Sir Mo Farah withdraws from London Marathon on Sunday due to hip injury…
- Sir Mo Farah had a problem with his right hip during training and will not be fit
- There was fear that the race could be the last elite event of his career
- However, he plans to race in 2023 when it returns to the traditional April date
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Sir Mo Farah has been forced to withdraw from this weekend’s TCS London Marathon, which is the final blow to the race’s organizers.
The four-time Olympic champion has announced that he injured his hip earlier this month and has not responded adequately to intensive treatment.
Sources close to Farah had indicated he could retire from elite running after this weekend if his performance was disappointing, although he has now suggested he could return when the race resumes on his regular playground in April. It is understood that he would fulfill his last contractual obligation to the Marathon.
Sir Mo Farah had won a warm-up race in preparation for the London Marathon earlier this month
Farah said: “I’ve been training really hard over the last few months and I had gotten myself back into good shape and was quite optimistic about putting in a good performance.
“However, for the past 10 days I have felt pain and tightness in my right hip. I’ve had extensive physio and treatment and did everything I could to be at the start, but it hasn’t improved enough to compete on Sunday.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist, 39, had a problem with his right hip during practice
“It’s really disappointing to have to retire after a good last few months and after my win at the Big Half (earlier in September), but also because I love racing in front of my home crowd in London, that us athletes are always so a great support.
‘I wish everyone participating on Sunday good luck and hope to be able to join you again in April 2023.’
Race director Hugh Brasher said: “We are so sorry Sir Mo is not fit on Sunday. We wish him a very speedy recovery and hope to see him run the 2023 TCS London Marathon next April.”
Farah’s withdrawal increases the chances of bad luck for Marathon’s minds, with a spate of injuries that has taken much of the star quality from the elite pitches.
They announced Monday that the women’s world record holder, Brigid Kosgei, had succumbed to a hamstring problem, which in turn followed the loss of Eilish McColgan to blood sugar problems.
There were also two significant exits from the men’s elite field in Vincent Kipchumba and Mosinet Geremew, who finished second and third respectively last year.
Brigid Kosgei also had to withdraw from Sunday’s race after suffering a hamstring injury