Mo Farah to defend 10,000m title at Tokyo Olympics after abandoning marathon plans

Farah is switching back to the track after a largely unsuccessful stint at the longer distance on the road

SIr Mo Farah has announced that he will return to the track and defend his 10,000 metres title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Farah switched to the road in 2017 but has largely struggled at the longer marathon distance.

And he has now abandoned plans to run the marathon in Tokyo, instead seeking to defend his crown in the 10,000m.

Farah is the two-time defending champion, famously taking victory in London in 2012 ahead of training partner Galen Rupp and retaining his title at the Rio Olympics four years later.

He has also won the last two Olympic 5,000 metres gold medals, but will not compete over the shorter distance next summer.

“Next year I’m going to be back on the track and I’m going to give it a go in the 10,000m,” Farah said on social media.

“Hopefully I haven’t lost my speed but I will train hard for it and see what I can do.

“I’m really excited.”

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei claimed victory over 10,000m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha after finishing second behind Farah in London in 2017.