Home » News » Mo Farah, Olympic gold, lost to an amateur

Mo Farah, Olympic gold, lost to an amateur

The world of athletics experienced a surprising day at the Vitality 10k in London. This was because Mo Farahgold medalist in the 5 thousand and 10 thousand meters of the Olympic Games that took place in the English capital in 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and six times World Champion, lost against Eliss Cross, an unknown 25-year-old amateur who came to the race by train.

Farah, 39, registered a trademark of 28m44s who was four seconds behind his winner. The fall was so hard that the British athlete of Somali origin raised doubts about his future and he conceded defeat by congratulating his rival.

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“It’s been a long time, but the credit goes to (Cross). He was very determined. Some athletes look at you but he feared no one, that’s a very good attitude. The reality is that I watch the race and I couldn’t change gear. I just didn’t have that,” Farah added.


“Ellis beat me really good. It was really important to test my body and see where I stand. It’s been a long time since my last race,” said Farah, who hasn’t raced since last year. and did not reach the minimum mark to participate in the JJ.OO. from tokyo, of which he stayed outside for 20 seconds. And she closed with a deep reflection: “You have to be ready to compete with the youngest. Maybe I’m not so young anymore…”

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Cross, meanwhile, lives a dream from which it will surely be difficult for him to wake up. He not only defeated his idol, as he told the BBC, but also received an interesting economic prize of 2,000 poundswhich more than compensates for the 37 he had to pay to sign up for the competition.

Cross, the amateur who beat Farah.

Cross, the amateur who beat Farah.


“I slept in my own bed, got up at 6 in the morning and took the train. Since I don’t have my name on my bib, when I ran everyone chanted for Mo because they knew who he was,” said the man who sold running products and, according to The Guardian, trains kids in his spare time.

“I’m still pinching myself, I just beat who is probably the greatest of all time“, he added.

“Maybe I’m not so young anymore,” Farah said. (AFP)


Mofarah’s story

Farah, born in Somalia, had to leave his country in 1993 and arrived in London as a refugee via Djibouti. Already in Europe his teachers recognized him as a good soccer player and javelin thrower.

In his childhood he stood out as a footballer and javelin thrower.

In his childhood he stood out as a footballer and javelin thrower.


However, Mo quickly stood out as a great runner. His first great achievement was in the European Athletics Championships in 2010, where he won in the 5 thousand meters and 10 thousand meters. A year later, at the 2011 World Championships, she was gold in the 5,000m and silver in the 10,000m.

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In the European summer of 2012 came his great challenge: the London Olympics. As it was expected, the British runner was not out of tune and took gold in the 10 thousand meters with a time of 27m30s42. He later repeated in the 5,000 meters with 13:41.66.

He was a double gold medalist at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

He was a double gold medalist at London 2012 and Rio 2016.


Finally, after being world champion again in the 5,000m in Beijing 2015, he returns to participate in some Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and defends both medals in their specialties.

In 2017 he received the distinction of Knight by the queen.  (Reuters)

In 2017 he received the distinction of Knight by the queen. (Reuters)


In 2013, he received the honor of the Order of the British Empire from part d and in 2017 he was recognized as Sir (Knight) after receiving the Knight Bachelor by the Queen of England.

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