Sir Mo Farah’s Olympic dream died last night when he lost his race against time in Manchester.
Britain’s most decorated athlete finished 19 seconds outside the mark needed to punch his ticket to Tokyo to defend his 10,000 metres title.
His failure to secure a shot at a third gold medal over the distance in Japan leaves the track legend's career with nowhere to go.
After golden nights in London, Daegu, Moscow, Beijing, Rio and London again, it felt wildly inappropriate that the end should come in a small arena on a Friday night in front of just a smattering of supporters.
But when asked if he would now hang up his spikes, Farah said: “I’ve always said if I can’t compete with the best I won’t just go to be in a final. Tonight showed it’s not good enough.
“You go out there and give it your all and that’s all you have. I tried to push and push and I ran my lungs out.
“That’s all you can do as a human being, give it your all. I’ve had a wonderful career. I’m very grateful.”
Farah, Olympic champion in London and Rio, started strongly in a race specially put on for him by British Athletics ahead of Monday’s team selection.
But as in Birmingham three weeks ago, where he failed to hit the required mark in the British Championship, the 38-year old was unable to sustain his challenge, finishing in 27:47.
“I’m a bit shocked, I don’t really know what to say,” Farah added. “I’ve had decent training. I was confident, happy. We were going pretty well.
“But five laps out I knew I just wasn’t myself. I wasn’t holding my form. I was just working hard.
“Maybe age has caught up with me. Maybe it’s time to spend time with my kids.”
Farah was not helped by an unseasonably cold June evening, nor by his training partner Bashir Abdi unexpectedly dropping out with nine laps to go to leave him chasing alone.
The four-time Olympic champ knew the game was up long before he crossed the line to sympathetic cheers from a few hundred hardy souls.
“I got a little bit emotional at the end,” he admitted. “People stayed behind. I just wanted to say thank you. I gave a little boy a hug, he was crying a bit.”
Farah denied that spending time ‘In the Jungle’ last November on ITV’s celebrity reality show had undermined his preparations.
“I’ve no excuses,” he said.
“It’s going to be tough watching the Olympics on TV. But if you can’t compete you’ve got to watch it at home.
“I’ve had an amazing career, I’ve won so many medals. I’d not change anything.
“I’m gutted but I have to step back and think what a wonderful career I’ve had.”
