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Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah[6] (bornHussein Abdi Kahin;[7] 23 March 1983) is a British formerlong-distance runner. Considered one of the greatest runners of all time, his ten global championship gold medals (four Olympic and six World titles) make him the most successful male track distance runner in the history of the sport, and he is the most successful British track athlete inOlympic Games history.
Farah is the2012 and2016 Olympic gold medallist in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m. He is the second athlete, afterLasse Virén, to win both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m titles at successive Olympic Games. He also completed the 'distance double' at the2013 and2015 World Championships in Athletics. He was the first man to defend both distance titles in both major global competitions; a feat described as the 'quadruple-double'.[8][9] After finishing second in the 10,000 metres at the2011 World Championships, Farah had an unbroken streak of ten global final wins (the 5,000m in 2011, the double in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, and the 10,000m in 2017). The streak ended in Farah's final championship track race, when he finished second to Ethiopia'sMuktar Edris in the 2017 5,000 metres final.
On the track, Farah mostly competed over5,000 metres and10,000 metres, but has run competitively from1,500 metres to themarathon. In 2017, he indicated his intention to switch wholly to road racing following victory at his final track race, the2017 IAAF Diamond League 5,000 metres final. He won the 2018 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:11, a European record.[10] His running style has been described as bouncy and tactical,[11][12] which he has attempted to alter for a more efficient and energy-saving stride pattern, especially in the longer distances.[13] Farah runs distance races tactically, a style which is aided by his especially quicksprint finish. His tactics were described inAthletics Weekly: "(Farah) could run 24 strong laps[14] of the track, which most of his East African rivals could match, before a blistering 400 metre sprint to the line, which none of them could."[15]
Born Hussein Abdi Kahin in theSomali Democratic Republic, he wastrafficked fromDjibouti to London under the name of another child, Mohamed Farah, at the age of nine and was forced into child labour. He adopted the name as his own thereafter, and became a British citizen.[7] He ran forNewham and Essex Beagles athletics club, training atSt Mary's University College, Twickenham from 2001 to 2011. He did not reveal that he was a victim of trafficking until 2022.
Farah is the currentworld record holder for the one hour run (21,330 m) and the currentEuropean record holder for the outdoor 10,000 m (26:46.57). He is also the currentBritish record holder for the 3,000 m (7:32.62) and 5,000 m (12:53.11). He formerly held the world best for the short track two miles at 8:03.40 (broken by Josh Kerr in 2024 with an 8:00.67 clocking), and also formerly held the European best in the outdoor two mile (8:07.85) and 3000m (7:32.62), until Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the 2 mile in 2023 with a new world best of 7:54.10 and the 3,000m in 2024 with a world record time of 7:17.55. Farah was also the former British short track record holder for the 3,000 m, at 7:33.1+ (broken by Sam Atkin in 2023 with 7:31.97). Farah also held the 1500m British Record (3:28.81) which was broken by Josh Kerr in 2024 with a time of 3:27.79.
Farah was the first British athlete to win two gold medals at the same world championships. His five gold medals at the European Athletics Championships made him the most successful male athlete in individual events in the championships' history. He has won theEuropean Athlete of the Year award and theBritish Athletics Writers Association British Athlete of the Year award more than any other athlete, three times and six times respectively. In 2017, Farah won theBBC Sports Personality of the Year.[16] Farah was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in2013 and wasknighted by QueenElizabeth II in the2017 New Year Honours for services to athletics.[17]
Hussein Abdi Kahin (Somali:Xuseen Cabdi Kaahin) was born on 23 March 1983[18] in theSomali Democratic Republic. He belongs to the Jibril Abokor sub-division of theHabr Awal clan, itself part of theIsaaq clan-family.[19] His father died in theSomali Rebellion when Kahin was aged four, and he then became separated from his mother.[20] He subsequently spent a few years inMogadishu[21] before, at the age of nine, he was illegallytrafficked to the United Kingdom viaDjibouti, where he was given the name Mohammed Farah and wasforced to work as adomestic servant. Farah was flown from Somalia by a woman he had never met, and made to look after another family's children. He obtained British citizenship in July 2000 under the name Mohamed Farah. These aspects of his background were not made public until July 2022,[7] and abarrister told him that there was a risk that he might lose his British nationality as it was obtained by misrepresentations; theHome Office, however, assured him that he would not face any repercussions.[20][22]
For the first years he was in Britain, he was not allowed to go to school, but when he was 11 or 12 he began to attend Year 7 atFeltham Community College, where staff were told he was arefugee from Somalia.[7] His athletic talent was first identified byphysical education teacher Alan Watkinson.[23] Farah's ambition at the time was to play as aright winger forArsenal football club, or become a car mechanic.[24][25]
Farah was a student atIsleworth and Syon school. In 2022 he gave an interview to current students.[26]
Farah joined the Borough of Hounslow Athletics Club in west London.[27][28] He representedHounslow atcross-country in the 1994London Youth Games as an under-13.[29] In 1996, at the age of 13, he entered theEnglish schools cross-country championships and finished ninth. The following year he won the first of five English school titles.[23] Recognising his talent, athletics philanthropistEddie Kulukundis paid the legal fees to complete Farah'snaturalisation as a British citizen, allowing him to travel to competitions without visa issues.[30][31]
Farah's first major title was in the5000 metres at the2001 European Athletics Junior Championships,[32] the same year that he began training atSt Mary's University, Twickenham. That year, Farah became one of the first two athletes in the newly formed Endurance Performance Centre at St Mary's. 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.[citation needed]
In 2005, Farah moved in with AustralianCraig Mottram and a group of Kenyan runners that included 10,000 m world number oneMicah Kogo. "They sleep, eat, train and rest, that's all they do but as an athlete you have to do all those things. Running with Craig made me feel more positive," Farah said. "If I ever want to be as good as these athletes I've got to work harder. I don't just want to be British number one, I want to be up there with the best."[23]
In July 2006, Farah recorded a time of 13 minutes 9.40 seconds for 5000 m to become Britain's second-fastest runner afterDave Moorcroft. A month later, Farah won the silver medal in the European Championship 5000m inGothenburg. Coaches Alan Storey andMark Rowland made sure that Farah remained competitive and a few words fromPaula Radcliffe before the 5000 m final inspired Farah. He has stated that: "She said to me, 'Go out and be brave. Just believe in yourself'."[23] In December 2006, Farah won the2006 European Cross Country Championships inSan Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.[33]
During the2007 European Indoor Championship Farah fell and amid confusion started running in the wrong direction.[24] Farah represented the UK at 5000 m in the2007 World Championships inOsaka, Japan. Farah finished sixth in a time of 13:47.54.[34][35]
In May 2008, Farah ran 10,000 m events, which was the fastest UK men's time for almost eight years. However, he wasknocked out before the 5000 m final at the2008 Olympics in Beijing.[citation needed]
In January 2009, Farah set a new British indoor record in the 3000 metres, breakingJohn Mayock's record with a time of 7 minutes 40.99 seconds inGlasgow.[36] A few weeks later, he broke his own record by more than six seconds with a time of 7 minutes 34.47 at the UK Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham,[37] a performance which commentatorSteve Cram called "the best performance by a male British distance runner for a generation".[38] Farah attributed his good form to a spell of winter training at altitude in Ethiopia and Kenya.[39] In March 2009 he took gold in the 3000 m at theEuropean Indoor Championships in Turin, recording a time of 7 minutes 40.17.[40]
Farah competed at the2009 World Championships in Athletics: he was in the leading pack early on in the5000 metres race and eventually finished seventh – the best by a European runner. After the championships, he scored a victory in his first road competition over 10 miles, winning theGreat South Run in 46:25 to become the third fastest Briton in spite of strong winds.[41]
Farah was one of the favourites to upsetSerhiy Lebid's dominance at the2009 European Cross Country Championships.[42] However, Lebid was never in contention as Farah andAlemayehu Bezabeh were some distance ahead throughout the run. Farah was overtaken by Bezabeh in the latter stages of the race, leaving the Briton with a second consecutive silver medal at the competition.[43] He did not manage to attend the medal ceremony, however, as he collapsed immediately after the race and needed medical attention.[44] After a close third place behindEdwin Soi at theBOclassic,[45] Farah competed in the short course race at theGreat Edinburgh Cross Country. He was the favourite to win and surged ahead to build a comfortable lead. However, he appeared tired in the latter stages and finished third behind British runners Ricky Stevenson and Steve Vernon. Farah again required post-race medical attention and subsequent tests revealed he had low levels of iron and magnesium. He was prescribed supplements for the condition and his high altitude training plans in Kenya were unaffected.[46]
Farah won the 2010London 10,000 in late May in a time of 27:44, in the process beating 10K world record holderMicah Kogo.[47] His success continued the following week at theEuropean Cup 10,000 m. There, he improved his track best by nearly 16 seconds, finishing in a time of 27:28.86. Farah won by a margin of over forty seconds ahead of second placedAbdellatif Meftah.[48] After training in Africa, he returned to Europe for the2010 European Athletics Championships. He took the 10,000 metres gold medal, overtakingAyad Lamdassem with two laps to go and finishing the race unpressured in a time of 28:24.99. This was Farah's first major title and also the first European gold medal in the event for Great Britain.[49] He then went on to win the 5000 m, beatingJesús España and becoming only the fifth man in the 66-year history of the European Championships to achieve the 5000 m/10,000 m double, and the first for 20 years, following in the footsteps of the CzechEmil Zátopek in 1950,Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak of Poland in 1958, Finland'sJuha Vaatainen in 1971 andSalvatore Antibo, of Italy, in 1990.[50][51]
On 19 August 2010, at aDiamond League meeting inZürich, Farah ran 5000 m in 12:57.94, breakingDavid Moorcroft's long-standing British record and becoming the first ever British athlete to run under 13 minutes.[52]
In December 2010, Farah was named track-and-field athlete of the year by the British Olympic Association.[53] He closed the year at theBO classic and just missed out on the 10,000 m title, losing toImane Merga in a sprint finish by 0.2 seconds.[54]
2011 was a successful year for Farah, beginning on 8 January at theEdinburgh Cross Country, where he defeated the top four finishers of that year'sEuropean Championships to take victory in the long race.[55]
In February 2011, Farah announced that he would be relocating toPortland, Oregon to work with new couchAlberto Salazar, train alongsideGalen Rupp, and avoid the attention of the British tabloids.[56][57] On 19 February 2011 in Birmingham, England, Farah broke the European 5000 m indoor record with a time of 13:10.60, at the same time taking ten seconds off the 29-year-old British indoor record ofNick Rose.[58] On 5 March 2011, he won gold in the 3000 metres at theEuropean Indoor Championships. On 20 March, Farah also won theNYC Half Marathon in a time of 1:00:23, a new British record.[59][60] He and training partner Galen Rupp had originally planned on running a 10,000 m race in New Zealand. However, after the race was cancelled due to theChristchurch earthquake and damage done to the track, they entered the half-marathon in New York.[citation needed]
On 3 June 2011, at a Diamond League meeting inEugene, Oregon, Farah won thePrefontaine Classic's 10,000 m event in 26:46.57, setting a new British and European record.[61] On 22 July 2011, at a Diamond League meeting inMonaco, he set a new British national record in the 5000 m with a time of 12:53.11.[62] Farah edged out AmericanBernard Lagat to win the race.[62]
In the2011 World Championships in Athletics inDaegu, South Korea, Farah made a major breakthrough on the world stage by taking the silver medal in the 10,000 m and then the gold in the 5000 m.[63] He became the first British man to win a World Championships medal over either distance.[citation needed] Farah had in fact been more strongly favoured to take the 10,000 m title, but was narrowly beaten in a last lap sprint by EthiopianIbrahim Jeilan. In the 5000 m, he overcame Lagat, beating him into second place. Following the race,Dave Moorcroft, former 5000 metres world record holder, hailed Farah as "the greatest male distance runner that Britain has ever seen".[64]
At the European Championships in June 2012, he won the5000m. This then made Farah the first athlete to win this European title more than once.[65]
At theLondon 2012 Olympics, on 4 August, Farah won the10,000 m gold in a time of 27:30.42. This was Great Britain's first Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 m, and came after two other gold medals for the country in the same athletics session.[66][67] His training partner,Galen Rupp of the United States, took second place. At the time both runners were a part of the Nike Oregon Project coached byAlberto Salazar. Farah stated that he would observe hisRamadan fast later in the year.[68] On 11 August 2012, Farah made it a long-distance double, winning the5000 metres in a time of 13:41.66.[69] The noise from the crowd in the 5,000 m race was so loud it made the camera shake and distorted the photo-finish image.[70] He dedicated the two golds to his twin daughters.[citation needed]
On 23 August 2012, Farah returned to the track at a Diamond League meet inBirmingham, where he capped off a winning season with another victory over a distance of two miles (3.2 km).[71]
Following his 2012 successes, Farah was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to athletics.[72][73] The move was met with anger by many in the general public, including erstwhile Minister of SportsGerry Sutcliffe, who felt that Farah instead deserved a higher accolade.[74][75] Farah's former physical education teacher Alan Watkinson similarly indicated that he was disappointed that Farah was not knighted and that the decision "discredits the system although it's still a fantastic achievement for Mo and well deserved."[75] However, deputy Prime MinisterNick Clegg cited Farah's Olympic double gold win in his 2013 New Year's message and 2012 Autumn conference,[76][77] andDavid Cameron in August 2013 expressed support for a knighthood for Mo Farah.[78]
On 19 July 2013, at theHerculis meeting in Monaco, Farah broke theEuropean 1500 m record with a time of 3:28.81. The feat meant that he was thesixth fastest man ever over the distance, overtakingSteve Cram's 28-year-oldBritish record and Fermín Cacho's 16-year-old European record.[79] It also made Farah the seventh man, behindSaïd Aouita,Daniel Komen,Ali Saïdi-Sief,Hicham El Guerrouj,Augustine Kiprono Choge andBernard Lagat to break both the 3:30 barrier in the 1500 metres and the 13-minute barrier in the 5000 metres, as well as the only athlete in history to run sub 3:30, sub 13-minute and sub 27-minute for 1500 metres, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres respectively. Additionally, he has a sub 1 hour run in the half-marathon. The following month, Farah won the London Diamond League Anniversary Games' 3000 metres event in a time of seven minutes and 36.85 seconds.[80] He twice broke the national record in the half-marathon, first on 24 February in New Orleans, then broke his own record on 15 September in theGreat North Run.[citation needed]
On 10 August 2013, Farah stayed in front ofIbrahim Jeilan to win the10,000 m event at theWorld Championships in Moscow. The victory was his fourth global title.[81] On 16 August 2013, Farah won the5,000 m event, in the process becoming double world and Olympic champion.[82] After this victory, BBC commentatorBrendan Foster andSebastian Coe called Farah 'Britain's greatest ever athlete'.[83] Farah became only the second man in history to win long-distance titles at successive editions of the Olympics and World Championships, afterKenenisa Bekele's 2008–09 feat.[84] He was the first British athlete to win two individual gold medals at a World Championships.[81][85][86]
In December 2013, Farah was the second favourite, behind Wimbledon tennis championAndy Murray, to become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. When he was asked what drove him to keep pushing back the boundaries of athletic accomplishment, he noted sprinterUsain Bolt's record breaking streak as a motivating example of what is possible for all dedicated athletes.[87]
Farah was a finalist for the 2013 IAAF World Athlete of the year award. In preparation for his marathon debut, he also extended his training schedule to 120 miles a week.[13]
Farah began 2014 preparing for the year'sLondon Marathon, his first such run. He described running the event as a longstanding ambition of his, particularly to do so in London.[88] Farah finished in eighth place in a time of 2:08.21. This was outsideSteve Jones' GB record, but set a new English national record.[89]
Farah was due to compete at the2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. However, he withdrew due to illness from a stomach ailment and an infection caused from having a tooth removed.[90] Farah later appeared in Zürich at the2014 European Athletics Championships. He successfully defended his 5000 m title and won a gold in the 10,000 m, thus completing another major championship double.[91] This made him the most successful individual in the history of the European Athletics Championships, with five titles to his name.[92]
On 7 September 2014, Farah competed in theGreat North Run, a British half marathon. He won the race with a personal best time of 1:00:00, exactly 1 hour.[93]
On 21 February 2015, Farah broke the indoortwo-mile world record at theBirmingham Indoor Grand Prix. He ran an 8:03.4 to breakKenenisa Bekele's record.[94] On 22 March, Farah broke the European record for half marathon inLisbon. He ran a time of 59 minutes, 32 seconds, surpassing the record set 14 years previously by Spain'sFabián Roncero.[95] He repeated his long-distance gold medal double at the2015 World Championships in Athletics.[96] His win in the 10,000m made him the oldest World Championship winner in that event, at age 32.[97]
On 26 March, Farah received a bronze medal in the2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships inCardiff, finishing in 59:59, less than one second ahead ofAbayneh Ayele.[98][99] On 20 February, Farah won the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix 3000m event.[100] On 5 June 2016, Farah broke the 34-year-old British 3000 metre record set by Moorcroft by winning the Diamond League inBirmingham, a win he dedicated to the recently deceased boxerMuhammad Ali.[101] In July 2016 Farah set the concurrent world-leading time in the 5000m in winning the Diamond League in London.[102] He won the 10,000m at the Diamond League inEugene, in a time of 26:53.71 which remained the second-fastest time in the world of the year.[103]
On 13 August, Farah won a gold medal in the10,000 metres at theRio Olympics, making it the first time a Briton had won three athletic gold Olympic medals.[104] After being accidentally clipped on the back of the heel by AmericanGalen Rupp on the tenth lap he fell,[105] but went on to win gold with the time of 27:05.17. Rupp slowed after Farah's fall to check his condition and finished in fifth place with a time of 27:08.92. In the final lap Farah battledPaul Tanui, who took the lead with 300 metres remaining. Farah edged him out with 100 metres to go. Tanui finished in second place with a time of 27:05.64.[105]
On 20 August, Farah went on to win a second gold medal in the5,000 metres at the Rio Olympics. Coming into the 31st Olympiad, Farah was trying to win gold medals in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres to double his success from theLondon Olympics. Farah held off the lead he had set and finished with a time of 13:03:30, making it only the second time someone has retained the 5000m and 10,000m Olympic titles, afterLasse Virén of Finland in 1972 and 1976.[106] In September 2016, he won theGreat North Run for a record third consecutive year.[107]
In 2016, he was the fastest person from the Europeancontinent over twomiddle distance events and threelong-distance events; the 1500 metres, 3000 metres, 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and the half-marathon respectively.[108] His ninth global title, the 5000m in Rio, made him surpassKenenisa Bekele as the most frequent winner of gold in history for major long-distance events. He remained unbeaten in 2016 in the 3000m as well as in six races over the 10,000m and 5,000m distances.[109]
Farah announced that he would switch from track events to themarathon after the2017 World Championships in Athletics.[110] He won the10,000m event,[111] and came second in the5,000m event after Ethiopia'sMuktar Edris.[112][113]
Farah won his final two track events, in the Diamond league, in Birmingham and Zurich.[114][115] On 24 August 2017, he won his final 5,000m in the Diamond league, finishing in 13:06.05, in a final sprint againstPaul Chelimo andMuktar Edris just behind in 13:06.09.[115][116]
On 20 August 2017, Farah again reiterated his decision to move to the marathon full-time, and caused headlines when he announced after running his last 10,000m race on British soil at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham that he would never again run in a GB vest.[117]
On 10 September 2017, Farah won theGreat North Run for a record fourth consecutive time.[118] He finished in 1:00:06, 6 seconds ahead ofJake Robertson.[119]
On 31 October, Farah split fromAlberto Salazar in order to be coached byGary Lough, husband and former coach ofPaula Radcliffe. Salazar stated that the split was mutual and he would be happy to advise Farah in the future.[120]
In March 2018, in preparation for the London Marathon, Farah won the inaugural London Big Half Marathon, his first race in six months.[121][122] On 22 April 2018, Farah came third in theLondon Marathon in a time of 2:06:22, comfortably beating the British record of 2:07:13 set bySteve Jones in 1985.[123][124] On 9 September 2018 Farah won the Great North Run for a record-extending fifth consecutive time.[125] At theChicago Marathon Farah claimed his inaugural gold medal in the marathon distance[126] and in the process set a new European record of 2 hours 5 minutes and 11 seconds, an improvement by 37 seconds.[127]
In February 2019, Farah announced he planned to run again in the London Big Half Marathon in March 2019.[128] In an interview, he also stated that he is considering competing in theTokyoOlympics in 2020, which, if confirmed, would mark his fourth Olympic games. As well as stating that this would depend on whether his wife and kids "let him",[129] he reflected on his track retirement, saying:
"I was honest and said I was done with the track but part of me missed it. I feel like I can still win medals and do as well as I have over the years."[130]
He has also confirmed that he may run in the 10,000 metres at theWorld Championships inDoha in late 2019, although this would depend on the result of the 2019 Big Half Marathon.[131] This possibility was later confirmed by Neil Black, performance director ofBritish Athletics, who has said that Farah had received financial backing from theNational Lottery in anticipation for both his participation in the Championships, as well as for the Tokyo Olympics.[132]
On 10 March 2019, Farah won his second London Big Half Marathon, and again hinted at running the 10,000m at theWorld Championships in October 2019.[133] In April, Farah finished in fifth place in the2019 London Marathon in 2:05:39.[citation needed]
On 8 September 2019, Farah won the 2019Great North Run for a record sixth consecutive time in a new Personal best of 59:07.[134]
On 29 November 2019, Farah announced via his YouTube channel, his plan to return to the track to defend his 10,000 m Olympic title at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. Farah stated he would put his marathon career on hold while he returned to track oriented training.[citation needed]
In August 2020, Farah won the inauguralAntrim Coast Half Marathon, with a time of 1 hr 00 min 27 sec.[135]
On 4 September 2020, Farah set the men's all-time record for theone hour run at the2020 Diamond League meeting inBrussels, Belgium, covering 21,330 metres (13.25 miles), breakingHaile Gebrselassie's record of 21,285 metres set atOstrava, Czech Republic on 27 June 2007.[136]
Farah spent several weeks at altitude training inEthiopia, before competing at the Djibouti International Half Marathon. Farah won the race in a time of 1:03:07. After training inFlagstaff, United States, Farah returned to the United Kingdom where, at the 2021 European 10,000m Cup inBirmingham, United Kingdom, he raced his first track 10,000m since the World Championships in 2017. He finished in eighth place in a time of 27:50.64,[137] this result broke his undefeated streak in the 10,000m from 2011 to 2021. Farah later said he was dealing with a foot/ankle injury.[citation needed]
On 25 June 2021, Farah failed to qualify for the2020 Tokyo Olympic Games managing to run only a 27:47.04 for the 10,000m at the Manchester Regional Arena, despite this time being a stadium record. The cut-off time for Olympic Qualification of the 10,000m stands at 27:28.00, leaving Farah 19 seconds off the pace. When asked whether this would lead to the end of his distinguished career, he said "It's a tough one. If I can't compete with the best I'm not just going there to finish in a final. Tonight shows it's not good enough."[138]
Farah missed doping tests in 2010 and 2011. At the time of the second test, Farah claimed that he was in his bedroom and could not hear his doorbell. He was spared from being banned for evading a test because the testers believed his explanation.[139]
In July 2017, the Russian hacking groupFancy Bears leaked a database fromInternational Association of Athletics Federations that purportedly showed that Farah had been suspected ofdoping in 2016. Previous Fancy Bears leaks are reported to have included false or altered documents.[140] The leaked report said that an IAAF staff member had regarded Farah's blood values as suspicious, and had written next to his name: "Likely doping; Passport suspicious: further data is required". However, a later leaked spreadsheet said his records had been "now flagged as normal with the last sample".[141]
In October 2019, Mo Farah's former coachAlberto Salazar andNike Oregon Project doctor Jeffrey Stuart Brown[142][143] both received four-year bans from athletics for the trafficking of testosterone, the prohibited use of L-carnitine, and tampering with doping controls.[144]The investigation was the subject of an episode of BBC'sPanorama in which it was revealed Farah repeatedly denied having L-carnitine injection prior to the2014 London Marathon to theUnited States Anti-Doping Agency in 2015, but changed his account of what happened shortly afterwards.[145][146]
In 2020 Farah acknowledged that he had lied about knowingJama Aden, who was arrested by Spanish police on suspicion of doping offences. Farah had been photographed with Aden several times.[147]
Farah often celebrated victories with a celebration dance known as the "Mobot". He adopted the move following an appearance in May 2012 opposite sports presenterClare Balding, on the panel game showA League of Their Own. The hostJames Corden suggested to the panelists that they should think of a new dance to mark Farah's winning celebration, and Balding came up with the "M" gesture. She said it was meant to represent the "M" in "Mo" and was inspired by the dance to "YMCA" by theVillage People. Corden himself then named it as the "Mobot".[148] A robot was named "Mobot" at a university research exhibition, in honour of Farah's celebration.[149] Farah has since used the pose as part of a charity to raise funds for his foundation.Virgin Media has promised to donate £2 for everyYouTube video that is uploaded with someone doing the mobot.[150] Farah often uses the sign-offShabba in online postings.[151]
Farah lives in London, England.[56] In July 2022, Farah revealed his birth identity as Hussein Abdi Kahin. When he was four years old, his father was killed by a stray mortar round,[7] during theIsaaq genocide in theSomaliland War of Independence.[152] Aged 8, Farah and his twin, Hassan, were sent to live with his uncle in Djibouti. Shortly after, Farah says he wasbrought to the UK by a woman he did not know, and told to use the name Mohamed Farah, taken from another child.[22] Once in London, he wasforced to work for her and her family, and prevented from contacting his own.[22] Aged 12, Farah was allowed to start school and he later confided in his PE teacher, who contactedsocial services who arranged for Farah to befostered by another family. His teacher later helped him apply for British citizenship.[7] As an adult, Farah has made contact with his birth family, and his mother and two brothers live on a farm inSomaliland.[7] Prior to these revelations, Farah had said that he had been separated from his twin Hassan aged eight when the family moved to join their father, who was working and studying in the UK; Hassan was unwell and unable to travel so stayed in Djibouti, but when his father returned the family Hassan was living with had moved and could not be found for 12 years.[153]
In April 2010, Farah married his longtime girlfriend Tania Nell inRichmond, London. Other athletes at the wedding includedPaula Radcliffe,Steve Cram,Hayley Yelling,Jo Pavey,Mustafa Mohamed andScott Overall, who was anusher.[154][155] Farah has a stepdaughter named Rihanna from this relationship.[156] He and his wife have twin daughters called Aisha and Amani, born in August 2012.[157] In 2015, Farah and Nell had a son called Hussein.[citation needed]
From 2011 to 2017, Farah lived with his family inPortland, Oregon, US so that he could train full-time with theNike Oregon Project.[158] At the end of 2017, he cut ties with his coachAlberto Salazar and decided to return to London. His statement said "Tania and I realised how much we have missed spending time with our friends and family and the kids are so happy here, too. We want the kids to grow up in the UK. It's the right thing to do for my family.[159]
Farah is aMuslim,[160] and is an active supporter of theMuslim Writers Awards.[161]Islam is an important part of his preparation: "I normally pray before a race, I readdua [Islamic prayers or invocations], think about how hard I've worked and just go for it." He notes that "theQur'an says that you must work hard in whatever you do, so I work hard in training and that's got a lot to do with being successful. [It] doesn't just come overnight, you've got to train for it and believe in yourself; that's the most important thing."[162] AnRISSC publication named Farah as among the500 most influential Muslims in the world in 2013.[163]
Farah is also a fan ofArsenal F.C., and has trained with its first team squad.[164][165] In October 2013, he launched a book titledMo Farah, Twin Ambitions: My autobiography.[166]
Farah has a large following on social media. This includes roughly 1.5 million followers onTwitter, 1.1 million onFacebook and 1.1 million onInstagram. In 2013, he was the top-ranked query for a sportsperson on the search engine Microsoft UKBing who was not a footballer.[167]
Farah is involved in various philanthropic initiatives, launching the Mo Farah Foundation after a trip to Somalia in 2011.[168] The following year, he participated in ITV'sThe Cube and won £250,000 for his foundation, becoming the only person to win the top prize on the show.[169] Along with other high-profile athletes, Farah later took part in the2012 Olympic hunger summit at10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister,David Cameron, part of a series of international efforts which have sought to respond to the return of hunger as a global issue.[170]
Olympic memorabilia featuring and signed by Farah has also been auctioned off to raise funds for theLondon Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).[171] In 2013, he joined legislators and activists in a campaign urgingBarclays Bank to repeal its decision to withdraw from the UK remittance market. Farah often used money transfer operators to send remittances to family, and some of the world's largest organisations and charities, including the UN and his own foundation, likewise paid staff and channelled funds through these services.[172] In March 2013, Farah, singerRobbie Williams, and a number of other celebrities also urged the Chancellor,George Osborne to clamp down on global corporations that avoid paying taxes in poor countries in which they operate.[173] He has also expressed support for research into brain tumours.[174]
On 7 August 2017, Farah became a global ambassador for Marathon Kids.[175]
Farah has endorsement deals with companies including PACE Sports Management,Nike,Lucozade,Quorn,Bupa andVirgin Media.[168] His work with Nike Inc. includes marketing of clothing and shoes.[176][177][178] In order to preserve his earnings after taxes, Farah also applied in 2013 to have his main place of residence changed to Portland, where he spends most of the year training.[158]
In December 2013, Farah signed a marketing deal with Quorn, part of a multimillion-pound campaign aimed at doubling the firm's sales. He led television advertisements for Quorn'svegetarian forms of protein, with the campaign scheduled to last throughout the following year.[179]
In 2012–2013, Farah intimated that he had been stopped a number of times byU.S. Customs officials under suspicion of being aterrorist, which he attributed to confusion between his full name "Mohamed" and a computerised check-in process. On one occasion after the2012 Olympics, he said that he had attempted to prove his identity by showing hisOlympic gold medals to customs officials, but that this was not accepted.[180]
After U.S. PresidentDonald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending the immigration of Somali-born U.S. permanent residents, Farah made a statement on his Facebook account stating that "I will have to tell my children that Daddy might not be able to come home."[181]
In March 2018, Farah posted a video on Instagram depicting what he alleges to be racial harassment atMunich Airport.[182]
In July 2012, Farah successfully completed the final game ofThe Cube on an episode of a 2012 celebrity series in which British gold medallist athletes competed for charity.
In November 2020, it was announced that Farah would take part in thetwentieth series ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.[183] He became the eighth celebrity to be eliminated on 2 December 2020 alongsideAJ Pritchard.
In July 2022, the BBC documentaryThe Real Mo Farah portrayed a new account of Farah's childhood. It follows Farah with his wife and son Hussein as he investigates his past, reuniting with his Somali family and the woman who raised him after he escaped domestic servitude. It received critical acclaim.[184][185][186]
In November 2022, it was announced that Farah would take part in theTaskmaster "New Year Treat III".[187] Farah won the episode.[188]
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All information fromAssociation of Road Racing Statisticians[221]
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | World Youth Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 6th | 3000 m | 8:21.25 |
| European Cross Country Championships | Velenje, Slovenia | 5th | Junior individual | 23:18 | |
| 1st | Junior team | 26 pts | |||
| 2000 | World Cross Country Championships | Vilamoura, Portugal | 25th | Junior individual | 24:37 |
| 12th | Junior team | 216 pts | |||
| World Junior Championships | Santiago, Chile | 10th | 5000 m | 14:12.21 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | Malmö, Sweden | 7th | Junior individual | 19:12 | |
| 2nd | Junior team | 25 pts | |||
| 2001 | World Cross Country Championships | Ostend, Belgium | 59th | Junior individual | 28:06 |
| 15th | Junior team | 332 pts | |||
| European Junior Championships | Grosseto, Italy | 1st | 5000 m | 14:09.91 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | Thun, Switzerland | 2nd | Junior individual | 19:38 | |
| 1st | Junior team | 54 pts | |||
| 2003 | World Cross Country Championships | Lausanne, Switzerland | 74th | Short race | 12:13 |
| European U23 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:58.88 | |
| 2005 | European Indoor Championships | Madrid, Spain | 6th | 3000 m | 7:54.08 |
| World Cross Country Championships | Saint-Galmier, France | 37th | Senior race | 37:50 | |
| 17th | Senior team | 308 pts | |||
| European Cup | Florence, Italy | 2nd | 3000 m | 8:17.28 | |
| European U23 Championships | Erfurt, Germany | 2nd | 5000 m | 14:10.96 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | Tilburg, Netherlands | 21st | Senior race | 27:57 | |
| 7th | Senior team | 129 pts | |||
| 2006 | Commonwealth Games | Melbourne, Australia | 9th | 5000 m | 13:40.53 |
| World Cross Country Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | 40th | Short race | 11:27 | |
| 14th | Short race team | 253 pts | |||
| European Cup | Málaga, Spain | 2nd | 3000 m | 8:27.91 | |
| European Athletics Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:44.79 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy | 1st | Senior race | 27:56 | |
| 4th | Senior team | 79 pts | |||
| 2007 | European Indoor Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 5th | 3000 m | 8:03.50 |
| World Cross Country Championships | Mombasa, Kenya | 11th | Senior race | 37:31 | |
| 8th | Senior team | 380 pts | |||
| World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 6th | 5000 m | 13:47.54 | |
| World Athletics Final | Stuttgart, Germany | 3rd | 3000 m | 7:49.89 | |
| 2008 | World Indoor Championships | Valencia, Spain | 6th | 3000 m | 7:55.08 |
| European Cup | Annecy, France | 1st | 5000 m | 13:44.07 | |
| Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 17th (h) | 5000 m | 13:50.95 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | Brussels, Belgium | 2nd | Senior race | 30:57 | |
| 3rd | Senior team | 54 pts | |||
| 2009 | European Indoor Championships | Turin, Italy | 1st | 3000 m | 7:40.17CR |
| European Team Championships | Leiria, Portugal | 1st | 5000 m | 13:43.01 | |
| World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 7th | 5000 m | 13:19.69 | |
| European Cross Country Championships | Dublin, Ireland | 2nd | Senior race | 31:02 | |
| 2nd | 54 pts | Senior team | |||
| 2010 | World Cross Country Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 20th | Senior race | 34:09 |
| 14th | Senior team | 230 pts | |||
| European Team Championships | Bergen, Norway | 1st | 5000 m | 13:46.93 | |
| European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 1st | 5000 m | 13:31.18 | |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 28:24.99 | |||
| 2011 | European Indoor Championships | Paris, France | 1st | 3000 m | 7:53.00 |
| World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 1st | 5000 m | 13:23.36 | |
| 2nd | 10,000 m | 27:14.07 | |||
| 2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 4th | 3000 m | 7:41.79 |
| European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 1st | 5000 m | 13:29.91 | |
| Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 5000 m | 13:41.66 | |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 27:30.42 | |||
| 2013 | European Team Championships | Gateshead, United Kingdom | 1st | 5000 m | 14:10.00 |
| World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 1st | 5000 m | 13:26.98 | |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 27:21.71 | |||
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 1st | 5000 m | 14:05.82 |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 28:08.11 | |||
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 1st | 5000 m | 13:50.38 |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 27:01.13 | |||
| 2016 | World Half Marathon Championships | Cardiff, United Kingdom | 3rd | Individual | 59:59 |
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | 5000 m | 13:03.30 | |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 27:05.17 | |||
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 2nd | 5000 m | 13:33.22 |
| 1st | 10,000 m | 26:49.51 |
| Category | Event | Time | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | 100 m | 12.98 | 2012 | Bath |
| 800 m | 1:48.69 | 5 August 2003 | Eton | |
| 1500 m | 3:28.81NR | 19 July 2013 | Monaco | |
| One mile | 3:56.49 | 6 August 2005 | London | |
| 2000 m | 5:06.34 | 9 March 2006 | Melbourne | |
| 3000 m | 7:32.62NR | 5 June 2016 | Birmingham | |
| Two miles | 8:07.85AR | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham | |
| 5000 m | 12:53.11NR | 22 July 2011 | Monaco | |
| 10,000 m | 26:46.57AR | 3 June 2011 | Eugene | |
| One hour | 21,330 mWR | 4 September 2020 | Brussels | |
| Indoor | 1500 m | 3:39.03 | 28 January 2012 | Glasgow |
| One mile | 3:57.92 | 4 February 2012 | Boston | |
| 3000 m | 7:33.1+ | 21 February 2015 | Birmingham | |
| Two miles | 8:03.40 | 21 February 2015 | Birmingham | |
| 5000 m | 13:09.16[222]AR | 18 February 2017 | Birmingham | |
| Road | 10 km | 27:44 | 31 May 2010 | London |
| 15 km | 42:03+AR | 26 March 2016 | Cardiff | |
| 10 miles | 46:25 | 25 October 2009 | Portsmouth | |
| 20 km | 56:27NR | 22 March 2015 | Lisbon | |
| Half marathon | 59:07a | 8 September 2019 | Great North Run[223] | |
| 59:32NR | 22 March 2015 | Lisbon | ||
| Marathon | 2:05:11 | 7 October 2018 | Chicago Marathon[224] |
+ intermediate split in longer race
a = aided road course according to IAAF rule 260.28
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's 10,000 m European Record Holder 3 June 2011 – | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Men's 1500 m European Record Holder 19 July 2013 – 14 August 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Half-Marathon European Record Holder 22 March 2015 – 8 February 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's Marathon European Record Holder 9 September 2018 – 1 December 2019 | Succeeded by |
Sporting positions and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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