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Farah won't rule out Olympic marathon bid

November 14, 2017
Mo Farah poses after he received his knighthood from Britain's Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, London, on Tuesday. — Reuters
Mo Farah poses after he received his knighthood from Britain's Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, London, on Tuesday. — Reuters

LONDON — Britain's Mo Farah says he could compete in the marathon at the 2020 Olympics if he feels confident of winning a medal.

Farah retired from the track in August to focus on road racing and has been coy about his Olympic future.

The 34-year-old had previously hinted he might not race for Britain again, but Farah hasn't completely ruled out the opportunity of going for gold in Tokyo.

Speaking after receiving his knighthood from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, the four-time Olympic champion said: "If I'm capable of getting a medal or close to a medal (in Tokyo), you will see me."

He has been retained on British Athletics' World Class Performance Program despite doubts over his Olympic plans. But, now living in London after splitting from controversial coach Alberto Salazar, Farah is currently more concerned with winning the London Marathon.

"For me it is the biggest marathon in the world, and it is going to be tough. Mo Farah ain't going to turn up and win... it's going to be hard to run," he said.

Quizzed on whether he had taught the Queen to do his famous 'Mobot' celebration, Farah laughed, saying it was "far too rude — not in Buckingham Palace".

Semenya to attempt double again at Commonwealth Games

Caster Semenya will again attempt the 800 meters and 1,500m double at next year's Commonwealth Games before setting her sights on a world record. The 26-year-old South African won gold in the shorter distance and a surprise bronze in the 1500m at the World Championship in London in August.

"I will again be going for the double but I need to improve on my tactics (for the 1500m)," she told reporters. "The 1500m is a race that excites me. I look forward to racing it."

Her coach Jean Verster said the 800m world record would be a priority for Semenya after the April Games at the Gold Coast in Australia.

"We will be gunning for that in the next season. I think she can probably break it already but we've got to find the right race because you don't want to put all your cards on the table and then get beaten," he told South Africa's Independent Newspapers.

Semenya won the 800m in London in one minute 55.16 seconds, the fastest time in the event since 2008. "I believe a time of 1:52 is possible. It is just a matter of getting in the right race with the right pacemaker," said Verster.

The world record of 1:53.28 is now almost 35 years old and was set by Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova in Munich in July 1983. — Reuters


November 14, 2017
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