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2007 European Indoor Championships © EMPICS Sport

Mo Farah & Phillips Idowu
© Richard Lane Photography

2006 European Championships
© EMPICS Sport

Sunday Mirror - March 2008

Athletics Weekly - February 2008

Mo faraH

Date of birth
23/03/1983
Place of birth
Mogadishu, Somalia
Nationality
British
Events
1500m, 5000m, X Country
Club
Newham Essex & Beagles

International track and field athlete, Mo Farah is one of Great Britain’s Olympic hopefuls for next year’s games.

Born in Somalia, Mo arrived in Britain in 1993 at the age of nine. 'His talent was first recognised by his teacher at his primary school in Feltham, Middlesex. It was through his teacher’s encouragement that Mo signed up to his local running club and in 1997 he won the first of five English schools titles.

Mo gained his first major title at the European Junior Cross-Country Championships in 2001, winning Silver.

On the track, Mo competes over 1500m, 3000m and 5000m. He currently holds the European and British record in 5000m indoors - a record that stood for 29 years. He also holds six British records: 10k road, 5k road, 5000m indoors, 3000m indoors, 5000m outdoors, and 10,000m outdoors.

In 2010 he became the first British man ever to win double gold in 5000m and 10,000m at the European track and field Championships held in Barcelona. He also went on to become the first British man to run under 13 minutes for 5000m. Also competing in cross-country running, Mo won Gold at the 2006 European Cross-Country Championships.

Farah’s successful breakthrough year saw him being awarded Britain’s ‘Athlete of the Year’ in 2006. His popularity in the running community is not just down to his achievements on the track but because of his friendly and positive nature which inspires many young athletes.