Hero Mo Farah dedicates 10,000m gold medal to daughter Rihanna after fall almost cost Brit running champ victory
MO Farah’s family shared touching pictures of their medal celebrations after he won gold in Rio — despite being tripped up.
Team GB’s running superstar handed his gong to daughter Rhianna after a thrilling win in the 10,000m final yesterday.
Mo, 33, went to hug Rhianna, 11, and wife Tania in the stands after bouncing back from an early tumble to sprint to glory.
A bumper 2.6million Brits stayed up to watch on TV as Mo’s race began at 1.27am UK time.
They were rewarded when he ran past Kenya’s Paul Tanui in the home straight to clinch gold.
Mo said Rhianna inspired his dramatic recovery — then vowed to win another gold on Saturday for his ten-month-old son Hussein.
After crossing the finish line shortly before 2am he gave his trademark Mobot salute.
Thrilled Tania and Rhianna then copied the pose with fellow British fans, before embracing and kissing their hero.
Mo shared a picture of his wife and daughter on Instagram, writing: “Oh my days....!! I did it for Rhianna.. My daughter!!! This for my family.”
Tania also posted a snap of the trio with the caption: “He did it . . . He actually did it . . . !!!!!!”
Mo was accidentally tripped by his American pal and former training partner Galen Rupp, 30, on lap ten of the 25-lap race.
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He said: “I just had to believe in myself and get through it.
“I promised my daughter Rhianna I was going to get her a medal and I was thinking: ‘I can’t let her down’. That’s all I was thinking about — her.”
Mo became the first British athlete to win three track golds.
He dedicated his double at London 2012 to his then baby twins Aisha and Amani.
He added: “I’ve won an Olympic gold for three of my children — now I’d like to win the 5,000m gold for my little boy.”
An audience of 2.27million tuned in to BBC’s Olympics athletics coverage after Match of the Day at 11.55pm on Saturday.
But a further 300,000 switched on at the start of the race.
The BBC’s early hours slot usually only draws an average audience of 200,000 viewers.
Reflecting on his fall, Mo said: “I work hard and I spend a lot of time away from my family. That’s why I was quite emotional at the end because it almost went.
Mo to come ... Farah has vowed to win yet another gold medal for his 10-month-old son Hussein
“I was thinking try and get up as fast as I can. There were quite a lot of laps left.
“I have to recover now and get some time with my family.
“It’s important to make my country proud and make history, it’s every athlete’s dream.”