Sir Mo Farah branded 'true hero' after stepping in to help London Marathon runner
Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah stepped in to help a struggling runner overcome leg cramp during the 2026 London Marathon
Olympic icon Sir Mo Farah came to the rescue of a stricken runner during the London Marathon, with footage of the heartwarming moment spreading rapidly across social media.
Sir Mo served as one of the official starters for Sunday's race, alongside England star and Women's Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne. It marked the first occasion the Team GB legend had returned to the marathon since hanging up his spikes in 2024, and he was well placed to pass on his wealth of knowledge to those taking part.
He was called into action just over two miles from the finish line when a runner pulled up with cramp right beside where the four-time Olympic champion was stationed on the sidelines.
The runner, dressed in a neon green top and headband, ground to a halt alongside the barriers on Victoria Embankment, grimacing with a severe cramp in his leg.
Swift assistance arrived in the form of Sir Mo, who was positioned on the other side of the barriers, with the 43-year-old's generous nature shining through as he demonstrated precisely how to stretch out his leg to ease the agony.
In footage posted to TikTok, the runner could be seen following the Olympic great's lead as he poured water over his legs, adjusting his technique for the stretch under Sir Mo's guidance.
Following a brief exchange with the Team GB star - who had appeared in the I'm A Celebrity... South Africa final less than 48 hours previously - the runner felt sufficiently recovered to get back underway, setting off into the crowds while sipping from a water bottle. The footage of the encounter has already amassed nearly half a million views on TikTok and garnered more than 57,000 likes.
It was captioned: "Sir Mo Farah helping a stranger with a cramp at mile 24 of the London Marathon. What a guy @sirmofarah," with viewers swift to heap praise on the Olympian for his selfless actions.
"That man is such an inspiration to his children," wrote one. Another added: "How can you not love Mo Farah? A true national treasure."
A third viewer commented: "He was handing out advice, water and muscle rubs where needed....a true hero," while another said: "What a memory for that runner!".
One fan described Sir Mo as a "national treasure and legend", while another viewer wrote: "That's so cute, I'd remember that forever."
The Team GB legend was also spotted running alongside Jordan Adams of the FTD Brothers, who tackled the marathon carrying a 25kg fridge on his back to represent the burden of his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, a condition that tragically claimed his mother's life at just 52 years of age.
