Hip injury rules out four-time Olympic champion from home-town marathon

Sir Mo Farah has withdrawn from the 2022 TCS London Marathon, adding to a number of other big name withdrawals including Eilish McColgan, two-time winner Brigid Kosgei, World Champion Tamirat Tola, domestic star Samantha Harrison and past 2nd and 3rd placed finishers Vincent Kipchumba and Mosinet Geremew.

Farah, the four-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion, had been training well and won The Big Half in London earlier this month (4 September), but recently was hit with a hip injury and, despite intensive treatment, is not fit to compete on Sunday.

Sir Mo said: “I’ve been training really hard over the past few months and I’d got myself back into good shape and was feeling pretty optimistic about being able to put in a good performance at the TCS London Marathon. However, over the past 10 days I’ve been feeling pain and tightness in my right hip. I’ve had extensive physio and treatment and done everything I can to be on the Start Line but it hasn’t improved enough to compete on Sunday.

“It’s really disappointing to have to withdraw after a good last few months and after my win at The Big Half but also because I love racing in front of my home crowd in London who always give all of us athletes such amazing support.

“I wish everyone taking part on Sunday a good run and I hope to be back out there with you in April 2023.”

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, said: “We are so sorry that Sir Mo is not fit to run on Sunday. We wish him a very speedy recovery and hope to see him running the 2023 TCS London Marathon in April next year.”