London, Nov 20 (IANS): Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah will return to the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2019, organisers announced here on Tuesday.

Farah, who also won six World Championship gold medals, is already Britain's most decorated track and field athlete and now he is breaking more records on the road, reports Xinhua news agency.

In his first year as a dedicated marathon runner, Farah finished third in this year's London Marathon in a British record time of two hours 6 minutes and 21 seconds.

The 35-year-old Londoner bettered that in October's Chicago Marathon where he recorded his first marathon victory and set a new European record of 2:05:11.

He said: "I'm delighted to confirm I'll be returning to race the Virgin Money London Marathon again next year. I've often said how racing in London is very special to me and the London Marathon gives me the chance to run in front of my fans, on my home roads, where the atmosphere is like nothing else.

"I feel I have made great strides in the past year, finishing third in London in April, and winning my first major marathon in Chicago in October. That and breaking both the British and European records has given me the confidence that I can compete against the best marathon runners in the world.

"London always puts together a world-class field and I expect that will be exactly the same in 2019 and I can't wait for the challenge."

Farah is the first athlete to be announced for the 2019 London Marathon which will take place on April 28 next year.