Mo Farah picks a Team GB star who now has a big chance to follow in his Olympic footsteps
Sir Mo Farah is taking on a new challenge now that he’s retired from athletics—and he’s excited about a current Team GB star who could have a big moment in the next couple of years.
Mo has teamed up with Buxton and the mental health charity Mind to launch the ‘Talking Laces’ campaign. This project aims to show how important staying active and drinking enough water are for both your body and your mind. The laces are a special blue color and come in limited numbers. They’re a simple way for people to show they’re open to talking or listening about mental health. Buxton’s research found that 45% of adults in the UK feel more comfortable talking about their mental health while exercising.
“For me, being an athlete taught me a lot about how to improve yourself,” Farah told SPORTbible. “I had an amazing career, and now that I’ve retired, I want to help others. When Buxton and Mind told me about this campaign, I thought, ‘Yes, let’s do it!’
“Half of British adults don’t even talk about their mental health—it can be really hard to start that conversation, even for me. But 65% of people say once they do talk, they feel better. This campaign is about making it easier.
“If you see someone with these blue laces, it means they’re open to chatting about mental health, side-by-side. It’s a simple way to start a conversation. Plus, a lot of people don’t drink enough water, and that’s something we want to highlight too.”
Mo Farah is Britain’s greatest Olympic track athlete, winning four gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and he still holds the British record for the 10,000 meters. Now 43, he’s a Sports Personality of the Year winner and has been knighted.
He’s shared before how tough his early life was and the obstacles he faced just to become a professional athlete. There was a turning point for him, though.
“After school, I went to university and saw who I was competing against,” he remembers. “I thought, if I keep hanging out and playing PlayStation instead of training hard, I have no chance. That’s when I decided to change everything—training, eating right, focusing 100%. That was the biggest change I had to make.”
Mo sees the same determination in George Mills, one of Team GB’s top medal hopes for the 5,000 meters. George comes from a football family but chose running instead. At 27, he made the Olympic final in Paris 2024 and was expected to do well at the 2025 World Championships, although an injury slowed him down. But the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles could be a big moment for him.
“George has what it takes,” Mo says. “He’s always working hard, always focused. It’s about giving yourself the best chance.”
Mo also talks about Josh Kerr, another Team GB star who broke the world record in the mile this year. “He’s serious and focused. I respect that a lot—it’s amazing to set a goal a year in advance and then achieve it, no matter what.”
Josh Kerr and Amy Hunt, who won four golds at the European Championships, are both favorites for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year award. Mo thinks they both have a good shot, but “it’s up to the public to vote and make the difference.”
Even in retirement, Mo is trying new things. He’s appeared twice on the show *I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!*, and he’s one of only two people to make the top three on their second attempt. His second time on the show was in South Africa this year, which was a bit cold and rainy but much more enjoyable than his first time.
“You learn a lot when you’re out of your comfort zone and living with people you don’t know,” he says. “It’s a great experience and also good TV! I’m looking forward to watching this year as others like Wayne Rooney and Joanna Page take on the jungle.”
Buxton Mineral Water and Mind have joined forces with Sir Mo Farah to launch the Talking Laces campaign. These special shoe laces help start conversations about mental health while reminding us to keep moving and drinking water for a healthy body and mind.