Double-Olympic champion Mo Farah up for historic challenge in Brazil

Double-Olympic champion Mo Farah is ready for the challenge of creating his own slice of history at next month’s Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The British long-distance runner had the benefit of a huge groundswell of support four years ago at the London 2012 Games when he collected gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events.

Farah will complete his Rio prep this weekend at the Anniversary Games in London before heading off to Brazil to defend his titles.

Already this week Farah has been warned by Julius Kirwa – the head coach of the Kenyan team – that they are ready to ‘go to war’ as they send out Paul Tanui, Bedan Karoki and Geoffrey Kamworor in the 10,000m seeking to topple Farah.

Blessed with a strong record in long-distance events, the Kenyans also have Charles Yossei, Caleb Mwangangi and Isaiah Kiplangat bidding for 5,000m glory.

Kirwa knows that Farah should not dominate their build-up plans but he has delivered a strong warning that Kenya are ready to strike back after a disappointing medals return in London.

“Our preparations for the Games are not based on an individual, another totally different one may emerge,” he said.

“In any case, we are going for war. And when preparing for war, you don’t know whether you will be ambushed or survive.”

For his part, Farah is eager to continue the domination that has seen him triumph in both events at not just the 2012 Games but also the 2013 and 2015 World Athletics Championships and at the 2010 and 2014 European Championships.

While he will not have the home crowd behind him in Brazil, Farah says that also means a little less pressure for his bid to make history.

“To win Olympic gold twice — again…it’s gonna be pretty incredible.

I am very fired up,” he told the London Evening Standard. “Of course it’s going to be a challenge.

I won’t have 75,000 Brits [cheering for me], but on the other hand I don’t have the pressure that I had in London.”