LONDON - Mo Farah's coach Gary Lough has hinted the four-time Olympic champion could make a shock return to the track at the World Championships in Doha next year.
Farah, who broke the European record in winning the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, revealed last Friday that he has done a U-turn on his Team GB retirement and will target a medal over the distance at the 2019 Worlds and 2020 Olympics.
Now it appears Farah may also return to the track in Doha next September, despite assertions over the past year that his future lies only in road running. Lough said: "He will sit down with a few of us and look at his plan for next year. He really wants to run the World Championships but what he runs there hasn’t been decided."
When pressed on whether that meant a possible tilt at the 10,000m, in which Farah is a double Olympic gold medallist and triple world champion, Lough was non-committal, but added: "He might change things up a bit next year, surprise a few people, so we will see."
The comments come after a successful trip to the US, in which Farah proved himself one of the best marathon runners in the world. Farah accepts the gap to world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge is too big to be bridged unless the Kenyan suffers an injury, but said:
"I can beat anyone else. If you look at the times and calculate it, seeing who has beaten who, I definitely think I am capable of mixing it. Others will be a bit scared after Chicago. They have seen me take control of a race.
"It is a similar thing I have done on the track over the years - building your character, building yourself, being able to control races. It is a good thing and it has given me a bit more credit when I turn up on the start line."
. What an amazing day..!!! European record and first marathon victory!!! I love Chicago!!! #onemomile pic.twitter.com/mvKUUahVCQ