Mo Farah has officially received his knighthood from the Queen describing the moment as “incredible”.
The four-time Olympic champion was honoured at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for his services to athletics, and swapped his running kit for a top hat and a full morning suit.
Sir Mo, who called time on his track career at the end of the summer, will be moving back to London from the United States to concentrate on running road marathons.
“Over the years you dream of becoming something or doing something in your career, to take it to the highest level and become an Olympic champion – that was always the dream,” Sir Mo said. “As an eight-year-old coming from Somalia and not speaking a word of English, to be recognised by your country, it is incredible.”
On being handed the honour by the Queen, Sir Mo said she told him he has been “going too long” and asked him if he has retired.
“I said ‘no, I am going to run the London Marathon – I want to go into roads’. She said that’s marvellous,” Sir Mo said.
Farah received the honour on Tuesday at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace (PA). Quizzed on whether he had taught the monarch to do the Mobot, letting out a loud chuckle, he said no as it is “far too rude – not in Buckingham Palace”.
