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• Sir Mo Farah will go down as Olympic great after ending scintillating career

  Sir Mo Farah is one of the Olympic greats and will go down in British sporting history.

  The four-time champion has called it quits after his final race in the Great North Run.

  The sight of Farah failing to reach the Tokyo Olympics during a last-ditch attempt in Manchester in June 2021 will not be his enduring image but it will be one when it was clear his time was up.

  His dominance was over, the final push was not there and his legs no longer had it in them.

  Before then, on the track at least, he had been all conquering and gave British sports fans some of the most memorable moments of the last decade.

  None more so than at London 2012 when, already a 5,000m world champion – having failed to make the same final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – Farah helped create the biggest day in British Olympic history.

  Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford added three gold medals in 48 minutes at the Olympic Stadium, after wins in the men’s coxless four, women’s lightweight double sculls and women’s team pursuit earlier in the day.

  He stormed to 10,000m gold after Ennis-Hill had won the heptathlon and Rutherford claimed the long jump title.

  Seven days later he won the 5,000m to write his name further into British Olympic folklore.

  It allowed Farah to become a personality and transcended athletics and the ‘Mobot’ became a symbol of his success.

  He adopted it after it was suggested by presenter Clare Balding and then named by James Corden on TV show A League of Their Own just two months before the London Games.

  A robot was even named “Mobot” at a Plymouth University research exhibition.

  A year after London he became a double world and Olympic champion after victory in the 10,000m and 5,000m at the World Championships in Moscow, the first British athlete to win two individual gold medals at the Worlds.

  In 2014 he stepped up to the marathon for the first time, coming eighth in London but continued to shine on the track, defending his world titles in 2015.

  All roads then led to Rio with Farah completing a historic double double by defending his London titles – despite falling in the 10,000m.

  “After the 10k my legs were a bit tired, and I don’t know how I recovered. I had to take an ice bath and stay in my room, there were people bringing me food in my room and I was just resting up,” he said.

  “I can’t believe I did it. I did it! It’s every athlete’s dream, as I said… I can’t believe it, it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

  Back in the Olympic Stadium in 2017 he won another 10,000m world title and came second in the 5,000m in London before announcing his retirement from the track to focus on the marathon.

  Yet, aside from a victory in the Chicago race in 2018, he failed to convince.

  At the start of his marathon career he also split from controversial Alberto Salazar amid a US anti-doping investigation into the coach.

  “I’m not leaving the Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar because of the doping allegations,” Farah said at the time. “This situation has been going on for over two years. If I was going to leave because of that I would have done.

  “As I’ve always said, I’m a firm believer in clean sport and I strongly believe that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished. If Alberto had crossed the line, I would be out the door but Usada has not charged him with anything. If I had ever had any reason to doubt Alberto, I would not have stood by him all this time.”

  A return to the track to defend his 10,000m title was announced in 2019 and, while the 12-month coronavirus delay to the Tokyo Games gave him more time, it also left him a year older.

  At the official trials in Birmingham, Farah failed to hit the qualification mark, finishing 22 seconds adrift, and a hastily arranged race at the Manchester Regional Arena was his final chance.

  As the stadium got quieter – with the PA slowly stopping announcing his lap times – it quickly became apparent Farah would not achieve his goal and in the immediate aftermath he hinted retirement was on his mind.

  Now, he has officially hung up his spikes but will go down in athletics as an Olympic great.

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce rises above adversity with grace and grit, en route to Paris 2024

  In the world of athletics, few stories capture the essence of perseverance and determination quite like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's. The five-time world 100m champion on Wednesday shared an emotional outpouring of gratitude to her legion of fans, acknowledging their unbending support throughout a challenging season marked by a daunting knee injury sustained just prior to opening her season in Kenya in May.

  As she navigated the twists and turns of her journey to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Fraser-Pryce's resilience shone through, leaving an indelible mark on both her admirers and her sport.

  The seasoned athlete, at the age of 36, defied expectations and showcased her extraordinary grit. Despite the hurdles that the injury presented, Fraser-Pryce sprinted her way to a bronze-medal finish in the 100m event, clocking a season's best of 10.77 seconds. This feat was achieved even as she watched her own record of 10.67 seconds being eclipsed by the remarkable ShaCarri Richardson of the United States, who blazed through the finish line in an astonishing 10.65 seconds.

  Fraser-Pryce's journey, however, wasn't solely defined by her individual achievement. As a key member of Jamaica's 4x100m relay team, she once again demonstrated her steely commitment to her team and her nation.

  During the relay, Fraser-Pryce faced another setback—a hamstring injury—early on in her leg. Yet, driven by an unshakeable determination and a deep sense of duty, she continued the race, ensuring that the baton made its way to the next runner, Sashalee Forbes. This display of sheer willpower and selflessness rallied her teammates and captured the hearts of fans worldwide.

  The scene that unfolded in the aftermath of Fraser-Pryce's heroics was a testament to the profound impact she has had on her sport and her community. Teammates and coaches rushed to the medical centre, offering their support and encouragement. The doctors' diagnosis of a hamstring tear could have been a devastating blow, but Fraser-Pryce's spirit remained unbroken. The prognosis of a full recovery only solidified her resolve to come back stronger, setting her sights on new horizons.

  Fraser-Pryce's heartfelt words resonated deeply as she addressed her fans for the first time since the injury. "As I contemplate lacing up my spikes again, I am moved by the warmth received by each and every one of you," she shared. "Looking back 14 years from my first appearance at the World Athletics Championships and 16 medals later, it feels truly prolific.

  “A special ‘thank you’ to the organizers whose swift response to my injury and recovery spoke volumes for their care and professionalism on and off the track. Jamaica, the sweet land that I love, you are my heart, my backbone and the literal catalyst pushing me against all odds. Without a doubt, I am proud to be ‘one of us’ – as you all poured your support and care into me over the season. It was what kept me going.”

  Her acknowledgment of the organizers' support and professionalism, coupled with her profound love for her homeland, Jamaica, painted a portrait of an athlete who draws strength from her roots.

  "We never quit, we never stop," she proclaimed. These words encapsulated her ethos—one of resilience, tenacity, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. Fraser-Pryce's ability to find inspiration in adversity, to view setbacks as stepping stones, and to rise above challenges with grace and grit is a narrative that will continue to inspire athletes and fans across the globe.

  With her sights set on future endeavors, Fraser-Pryce left a tantalizing promise: "Every chapter, no matter how it reads, always leads us to better preparation and execution when again we rise. So get ready, Paris here we come…"

  Her journey is far from over; it's a testament to the power of the human spirit, the unwavering support of a community, and the enduring legacy of an athlete who embodies the very essence of sportsmanship and perseverance.

  As the world watches in awe, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's determination burns brighter than ever. She has her sights set on her fifth Olympic Games in Paris 2024, a stage where she intends to once again showcase her indomitable spirit and passion for her sport.

• On this day in 2016: Max Whitlock wins double Olympic gymnastics gold

  Max Whitlock ended Great Britain’s 120-year wait for gymnastics gold and then proceeded to double his tally in the space of two extraordinary hours on this day at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

  Whitlock clinched gold on both the floor and his favoured pommel horse apparatus to become the first British athlete to win two individual Olympic titles on the same day.

  If his victory in the pommel final, pushing team-mate Louis Smith into silver, was almost to be expected, it was his earlier performance on the floor which stunned those who believed he had only a slim chance of a podium place.

  The then 23-year-old landed a superb score of 15.633 then waited as a result which even he had intimated might be out of the question slowly began to turn to reality as key rivals including Kenzo Shirai and Samuel Mikulak messed up.

  Ultimately Whitlock, who refused to watch any of his rivals’ routines, edged Brazilian pair Diego Hypolito and Arthur Mariano into silver and bronze
  positions respectively, an unexpected result which sparked wild celebrations among the home fans and earned the Hemel Hempstead star his slice of history.

  Whitlock grinned as he watched the Union Flag being raised highest in an Olympic gymnastics venue for the first time, then somehow refocused to deliver a pommel routine which lived up to his status as favourite after winning the world title in Glasgow the previous year.

  Whitlock, who already boasted a bronze medal from the men’s all-around competition a week before, said: “It was quite difficult – I couldn’t take in what
  had happened on the floor. It hit me like a ton of bricks because I wasn’t watching any of the routines before or after me, and it was crazy and it made
  history.

  “But I knew I had another job to do – I had to head back in the training gym, refocus and start warming up for the pommel because I had one more routine to do and now I can proudly say I have finished the Olympics with a smile on my face.

  “This has out-done our expectations. This was my first floor final in the Olympics and the fact it only comes around once every four years makes it even more special. It makes me feel complete, I think.”