As the four-time Olympic champion returned to competition for the first time in 11 months at the Vitality London 10,000, Mo Farah finished second behind surprise winner Ellis Cross.

Farah, who hasn’t competed since June 2021, couldn’t beat Cross, who won by four seconds in 28 minutes 40 seconds.

Farah stated before the race that it would “make no sense” for him to continue competing if he couldn’t compete at the top level.

Farah, 39, told an international news channel: “Today was challenging, and Ellis did well to defeat me.”

Farah, who fractured his foot in the build-up to qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics and was unable to compete, added: “It is incredibly vital to test your body and evaluate where you are.”

“It’s been a long time since my last race. I’m passionate about the sport and what I do. I’ve worked for a long time. Your body must be prepared.”

“You must compete with the boys and be in the correct state of mind. You must state your location… “I’m not that young anymore, am I?” he remarked.