Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus has unveiled permanent cast of Mo Farah's footprints at South Shields Transport Interchange, celebrating his achievements in the Great North Run.
Nexus built the cast into the floor of the Metro ticket concourse, where it will be seen by thousands of passengers.
The official unveiling took place today Wednesday 20 December, with South Tyneside Council Leader Cllr Tracey Dixon carrying out the ceremonial duties with the assistance of pupils from Bede RC Primary School in South Shields.
Mo Farah is a four-time Olympic champion and winner of six Great North Runs. He had previously attended a ceremony in South Shields on Friday 8 September to place the imprints of his feet into wet concrete, in the same month that the Metro redesigned its cube to celebrate Mo's famous Mobot pose.
The footprints have since been set and made into a special tile, which has now been placed in the Metro station floor next to a commemorative plaque. The Mo Farah prints at South Shields Interchange can be found just in front of the escalators in the upper Metro concourse area.
Nexus said that the prints and plaque will together provide a lasting memory of Mo Farah's glittering career, recognising his place in North East folklore.
Ahead of this year's Great North Run in September, the Metro station cube got a Mo Farah makeover, showcasing his world famous Mobot celebration pose. The familiar yellow and black Metro cube replaced its traditional Metro logo with a silhouette motif of Farah's gold medal winning Mobot move, in which he arches his arms and points to the top of his head to make an ‘M' shape.
Prospective runners can sign up to the Great North Run ballot reminder service to be the first to know when the 2024 ballot opens for a chance to take part in the event, which will be held on Sunday 8 September.
Interim Managing Director of Nexus, Cathy Massarella, said: “It's a huge honour for us to unveil the cast of Sir Mo Farah's footprints at South Shields Interchange.
“We were delighted to welcome Sir Mo to the set the prints in the concrete in September, and we now have them officially installed for people to enjoy as they pass through the Metro concourse.
“This display celebrates Mo's amazing career, his six wins at the Great North Run, and the special place that he holds in the hearts of everyone here in North East England.
“He's part of local folklore and has cemented his place in the storied history of the Great North Run. We always felt setting his footprints would be a lovely new feature at the interchange and our own small tribute to his amazing career.”
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “It was wonderful to see the cast being unveiled and set in the floor of the interchange. It acts as a permanent monument of Sir Mo Farah's lasting legacy, inspiring running journey, and the love felt for him in our borough.
“The Great North Run is such a special event and one of the most recognisable events in the sporting world.
“We were thrilled that Sir Mo chose this event to be his final professional run and retirement from remarkable career. As always, we were so proud to have hosted him and the thousands of runners and spectators at the finish, and even more so on such an unforgettable occasion.”
Founder of the Great North Run, Sir Brendan Foster said: “We are delighted that Nexus chose to honour Sir Mo's remarkable Great North Run legacy and special connection with the North East in such a permanent way.
“South Shields holds a unique significance as the ground where Sir Mo concluded his incredible career as a professional athlete earlier this year. As we look forward to 2024, and with the Great North Run ballot opening early in the new year, we hope his footsteps serve as an ongoing inspiration to the North East and local running community for years to come.”
