Mo Farah, the new Olympic 10,000m champion, today set up his opportunity to make more athletics history as he qualified for the 5,000m final – but it was much harder and dirtier work than he had hoped as the new British hero found himself a marked man.
Four days after becoming the first Briton ever to win the 25-lap crown, Farah learned that Olympic champions are offered absolutely no favours as he had to negotiate a rough and tumble semi-final of the 12 and a half lap event.
He was barged and clipped from behind in a quality 22-strong field all chasing just five automatic places for the final, leaving Farah to note ruefully that it had been as if he had been in a boxing ring.
“It was really rough. I felt like I’d been in the ring with Anthony Ogogo! As soon as they saw me out there, I got roughed up more than anyone else. I’m the smallest or something. There’s definitely a target on me now – I am the Olympic champion, so everybody has eyes on me.
“I’ve got to respect everybody and do the best I can. You just have to accept it as part of the sport.”
Farah, still feeling tired after his Saturday night heroics, needed to uncork a last lap in the region of 54 seconds just to ensure he finished third to book his place in Saturday’s final.
