Mo Farah is a Britsh athlete who was the second man in history to win long-distance doubles at successive Olympics and World Championships, and the first in history to do the triple-double. Let’s see some amazing facts and trivia about him!
1.His full name is Mohamed Muktar Jama “Mo” Farah
2. Farah was born on 23 March 1983 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
3. He spent the early years of his childhood in Djibouti with his twin brother.
4. He moved to Britain at the age of eight to join his father, speaking barely a word of English.
5. His grandfather, Jama, was born in the British protectorate of Somaliland.
6. His father, Mukhtar Farah, is an IT consultant and a British citizen, who was born in London, England and grew up in Hounslow.
7. Mo Farah attended Isleworth and Syon School, and Feltham Community College.
8. His athletic talent was first identified by physical education teacher Alan Watkinson.
9. Mo Farah’s ambition was to become a car mechanic or play as a right winger for Arsenal football club.
10. He later joined the Borough of Hounslow Athletics Club in west London.
11. Mo Farah represented Hounslow at cross-country in the London Youth Games.
12. In 1996, at the age of 13, he entered the English schools cross-country and finished ninth. The following year he won the first of five English school titles.
13. Recognising his talent, athletics philanthropist Eddie Kulukundis paid the legal fees to complete Farah’s naturalisation as a British citizen, allowing Farah to travel to competitions without visa issues.
14. Farah’s first major title was at 5000 metres at the European Athletics Junior Championship in 2001, the same year that he began training at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham.
15. That year, Farah became one of the first two athletes in the newly formed Endurance Performance Centre at St Mary’s.
16. He lived and trained at the College, and took some modules in an access course before becoming a full-time athlete as his career progressed.
17. In 2005, Farah moved in with Australian Craig Mottram and a group of Kenyan runners that included 10,000 m world number one Micah Kogo.
18. In July 2006, Farah clocked a time of 13 minutes 9.40 seconds for 5000 m to become Britain’s second-fastest runner after Dave Moorcroft.
19. In December 2013, Farah was the second favourite sportsperson behind Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray to become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
20. On August 13, Farah doubled his gold by winning the 10,000 metres at the Rio Olympics. After being accidentally clipped on the back of the heel by American training partner Galen Rupp on the 10th lap and falling.
21. Farah went on to win gold with the time of 27:05.17. Training partner Galen Rupp (who slowed down after Farah’s fall to check Farah was alright) went on to finish in 5th place with a time of 27:08.92. Farah battled it out in the final lap after Paul Kipngetich Tanui took the lead with 300 metres remaining. Farah edged him out with 100 metres to go and ran away with the gold. Paul Kipngetich Tanui finished in second place with a time of 27:05.64.
22.Farah is noted for his unique victory celebration dance known as the “Mobot”.
23. He adopted the move following a television appearance in May 2012 opposite sports presenter Clare Balding on the panel game show A League of Their Own
24. Farah has a twin brother, Hassan, who lives in Somalia. They were separated at eight years old, when Mo, his two younger brothers, and his mother joined their father who had been working and studying in the UK; however Hassan was unwell and unable to travel, so stayed behind with family in Djibouti
25. When Farah’s father returned to collect Hassan, the family he was living with had moved and couldn’t be found. Farah and his twin ended up being separated for twelve years. Hassan is now a successful telecoms engineer with a wife and five children. Farah has a third younger brother who was also born after the family’s move to London.
26. In April 2010, Farah married his longtime girlfriend Tania Nell in Richmond, London.
27. Mo Farah is also a fan of Arsenal F.C., and has trained with its first team squad.
28. Mo Farah is additionally involved in various philanthropic initiatives, launching the Mo Farah Foundation after a trip to Somalia in 2011.
29. Olympic memorabilia featuring and signed by Farah has also been auctioned off to raise funds for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
30. Farah often used the money transfer operators to send remittances to family, and some of the world’s largest organizations and charities, including the UN and his own foundation, likewise paid staff and channeled funds through these services.
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