Ellis Cross, the rookie runner who beat Mo Farah.
Mo Farah was born in Somalia. At 10, he left Mogadishu and came to the UK as a refugee. They say he played soccer well, but the gene for long-winded runners is in his DNA. And that is how he built a career like no other. Double Olympic champion in the 5 thousand and 10 thousand meters between London 2012 and Rio 2016 and six -time world champion, became an inevitable reference of athletics. But on Monday, at age 39, he realized his story as an elite athlete was coming to an end. It was after he had suffered a stunning loss to an unknown amateur runner that embarrassed him in a competition held on the streets of the British capital.
Known for her furious endings of sprints, Farah felt for the first time in her life that her body was not responding to her when Ellis Cross25 years old, completely unknown and not part of the top runners who participated in the Vitality test, he left him with an incredible ending that everyone in the world of sports is already talking about. It is a reality check for who is recognized, for his achievements on the track and in the streets, as Sir of the British crown.
Posted a time of 28m44, four seconds behind Cross, Farah had no lap. “I’m just pretending. I think that’s all“, he lamented as he crossed the finish line. He was hurt after beating a stranger, who not only had no name on his chest, but boarded the train to get to the competition on time.
Later, Farah returned, and said while she is likely to miss the world championships in July, she has not given up on competing in the Commonwealth or European Games in August so far.
“I have to work hard to compete again and be in good shape”Sorry Farah. He also makes obvious excuses. He revealed that he had a stress fracture in his leg and he tore his quadriceps during the boreal winter that prevented him from running for three months.
Be careful, Farah, a gentleman recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, did not shake Cross. “It must have been 20 years, at least, since I was beaten by a club runner,” admits the four-time gold medalist.
“A lot of time has passed. But the credit is yours. He was determined. Some athletes look at you, but he’s not afraid of anyone. I think that’s a good habit. The truth is here I am. I was watching a race and I couldn’t change gear. I just don’t have that, ”Farah describes.
As described in the newspaper Guardianthe (anti) hero of this true story works in a store that sells running products and trains children in his free time.
His face said it all as he looked at the £ 2,000 check for the winner. This was, no more and no less, his first prize as an athlete. It also allowed him to recoup the 37 pounds investment he made to enter the competition.
“I didn’t get elite entry. I was rejected because of that. I had to sleep in my own bed, get up at 6am and get on the train. I didn’t have a name on my bib. When I was running everyone was yelling my name.” Mo because they know who he is. Nobody knows who I am. I’m just a club runner, “he humbly introduced himself amidst so much euphoria.
Yes, Cross couldn’t believe it. “To be honest, I’m still pinching myself. I just beat the possible greatest of all time on the streets of London., in front of many people. Is incredible. I don’t expect this to happen, “he said.
And he closed: “I didn’t follow the script, right? I didn’t believe until 20 meters from the finish line I thought: ‘I think I could win this race’, and I gave it my all. I tried to make it. quite difficult from two kilometers because he was famous for his graduation. I am very glad“.
Source: Clarin
