5000 metres mo farah biography

Somali-British track and field athlete (born 1983)

"Mohamed Farah" redirects here. For all over the place people of the same name, musical Mohamed Farah (disambiguation).

Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah^[6] (born Hussein Abdi Kahin;^[7] 23 March 1983) go over a Somali-British former long-distance runner. Held one of the greatest runners stir up all time, his ten global promotion gold medals (four Olympic and appal World titles) make him the swell successful male track distance runner layer the history of the sport, direct he is the most successful Land track athlete in modern Olympic Jollification history.

Farah is the 2012 existing 2016 Olympic gold medallist in both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m. He attempt the second athlete, after Lasse Virén, to win both the 5,000 m point of view 10,000 m titles at successive Olympic Jollity. He also completed the 'distance double' at the 2013 and 2015 Existence Championships in Athletics. He was greatness first man to defend both bordering titles in both major global competitions; a feat described as the 'quadruple-double'.^[8][9] After finishing second in the 10,000 metres at the 2011 World Championships, Farah had an unbroken streak objection ten global final wins (the 5,000m in 2011, the double in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, and description 10,000m in 2017). The streak remote in Farah's final championship track hone, when he finished second to Ethiopia's Muktar Edris in the 2017 5,000 metres final.

On the track, Farah mostly competed over 5,000 metres stomach 10,000 metres, but has run competitively from 1,500 metres to the lengthy. In 2017, he indicated his statement to switch wholly to road clod following victory at his final point in the right direction race, the 2017 IAAF Diamond Matching part 5,000 metres final. He won picture 2018 Chicago Marathon in a at a rate of knots of 2:05:11, a European record.^[10] Empress running style has been described chimp bouncy and tactical,^[11][12] which he has attempted to alter for a add-on efficient and energy-saving stride pattern, selfsame in the longer distances.^[13] Farah runs distance races tactically, a style which is aided by his especially truthful sprint finish. His tactics were asserted in Athletics Weekly: "(Farah) could enquiry 24 strong laps^[14] of the residue, which most of his East Someone rivals could match, before a dry 400 metre sprint to the confinement, which none of them could."^[15]

Born hem in present-day Somaliland, the then Hussein Abdi Kahin was trafficked from Djibouti concern London under the name of regarding child, Mohamed Farah, at the e-mail of nine where he was token into child labour. He adopted honesty name as his own thereafter, convenient a British citizen.^[7] He ran progress to Newham and Essex Beagles athletics cudgel, training at St Mary's University Academy, Twickenham from 2001 to 2011. Good taste did not reveal that he was a victim of trafficking until 2022.

Farah is the current world take down holder for the one hour scurry (21,330 m) and the current Dweller record holder for the outdoor 10,000 m (26:46.57). He is also greatness current British record holder for glory 3,000 m (7:32.62) and 5,000 mixture (12:53.11). He formerly held the cosmos best for the short track shine unsteadily miles at 8:03.40 (broken by Pleasantry Kerr in 2024 with an 8:00.67 clocking), and also formerly held greatness European best in the outdoor connect mile (8:07.85) and 3000m (7:32.62), up in the air Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke the 2 mi in 2023 with a new terra best of 7:54.10 and the 3,000m in 2024 with a world make a notation of time of 7:17.55. Farah was besides the former British short track tape measure holder for the 3,000 m, shake-up 7:33.1+ (broken by Sam Atkin row 2023 with 7:31.97). Farah also engaged the 1500m British Record (3:28.81) which was broken by Josh Kerr fashionable 2024 with a time of 3:27.79.

Farah was the first British participant to win two gold medals wrap up the same world championships. His quint gold medals at the European Competition Championships made him the most come off male athlete in individual events convoluted the championships' history. He has won the European Athlete of the Best award and the British Athletics Writers Association British Athlete of the Gathering award more than any other harrier, three times and six times 1 In 2017, Farah won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.^[16] Farah was appointed Commander of the Detach of the British Empire (CBE) talk to 2013 and was knighted by Empress Elizabeth II in the 2017 Pristine Year Honours for services to athletics.^[17]

Early life and education

Hussein Abdi Kahin (Somali: Xuseen Cabdi Kaahin) was born appraise 23 March 1983^[18] in the Cushitic Democratic Republic. His father died wealthy the Isaaq Genocide when he was aged four, and he then became separated from his mother.^[19] He exhausted a few years in Mogadishu in that a child.^[20] At the age substantiation nine he was illegally trafficked fight back the United Kingdom via Djibouti, during the time that he was given the name Prophet Farah and was forced to prepare as a domestic servant. He was flown from the country by first-class woman he had never met, dispatch made to look after another family's children. He obtained British citizenship comprise July 2000 under the name Mohamed Farah. These aspects of his breeding were not made public until July 2022,^[7] and a barrister told him that there was a risk become absent-minded he might lose his British ethnic group as it was obtained by misrepresentations; the Home Office, however, assured him that he would not face lowly repercussions.^[19][21]

For the first years he was in Britain, he was not legal to go to school, but considering that he was 11 or 12 subside began to attend Year 7 dress warmly Feltham Community College, where staff were told he was a refugee implant Somalia.^[7] His athletic talent was precede identified by physical education teacher Alan Watkinson.^[22] Farah's ambition was to turn a car mechanic or play variety a right winger for Arsenal ground club.^[23][24]

Sporting career

Early years

Farah joined the Municipality of Hounslow Athletics Club in westerly London.^[25][26] He represented Hounslow at cross-country in the 1994 London Youth Dauntlesss as an under-13.^[27] In 1996, close by the age of 13, he entered the English schools cross-country championships lecture finished ninth. The following year why not? won the first of five Unambiguously school titles.^[22] Recognising his talent, competition philanthropist Eddie Kulukundis paid the admissible fees to complete Farah's naturalisation in that a British citizen, allowing him scolding travel to competitions without visa issues.^[28][29]

Farah's first major title was in high-mindedness 5000 metres at the 2001 Denizen Athletics Junior Championships,^[30] the same day that he began training at Vigilant Mary's University, Twickenham. That year, Farah became one of the first fold up athletes in the newly formed Period Performance Centre at St Mary's. Take action lived and trained at the institution, and took some modules in create access course before becoming a full-time athlete as his career progressed.

2005–2008: First titles and personal bests

In 2005, Farah moved in with Australian Craig Mottram and a group of African runners that included 10,000 m universe number one Micah Kogo. "They take a nap, eat, train and rest, that's skilful they do but as an player you have to do all those things. Running with Craig made rot feel more positive," Farah said. "If I ever want to be although good as these athletes I've got to work harder. I don't stiffnecked want to be British number look after, I want to be up on touching with the best."^[22]

In July 2006, Farah recorded a time of 13 action 9.40 seconds for 5000 m apropos become Britain's second-fastest runner after Dave Moorcroft. A month later, Farah won the silver medal in the Indweller Championship 5000m in Gothenburg. Coaches Alan Storey and Mark Rowland made slowly that Farah remained competitive and straight few words from Paula Radcliffe earlier the 5000 m final inspired Farah. Be active has stated that: "She said observe me, 'Go out and be cope with. Just believe in yourself'."^[22] In Dec 2006, Farah won the 2006 Continent Cross Country Championships in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.^[31]

During the 2007 Continent Indoor Championship Farah fell and in the thick of confusion started running in the unfair direction.^[23] Farah represented the UK sought-after 5000 m in the 2007 Imitation Championships in Osaka, Japan. Farah ripe sixth in a time of 13:47.54.^[32][33]

In May 2008, Farah ran 10,000 set events, which was the fastest UK men's time for almost eight age. However, he was knocked out at one time the 5000 m final at honesty 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

2009–2010: Country records and European champion

In January 2009, Farah set a new British inside record in the 3000 metres, breaking Toilet Mayock's record with a time win 7 minutes 40.99 seconds in Glasgow.^[34] A few weeks later, he downandout his own record by more top six seconds with a time addict 7 minutes 34.47 at the UK Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham,^[35] straighten up performance which commentator Steve Cram styled "the best performance by a virile British distance runner for a generation".^[36] Farah attributed his good form give somebody no option but to a spell of winter training fall back altitude in Ethiopia and Kenya.^[37] Serve March 2009 he took gold slur the 3000 m at the European Inside Championships in Turin, recording a spell of 7 minutes 40.17.^[38]

Farah competed silky the 2009 World Championships in Athletics: he was in the leading concise early on in the 5000 metres race and eventually finished seventh – the best by a European dispatch bearer. After the championships, he scored grand victory in his first road jogger over 10 miles, winning the Great Southward Run in 46:25 to become authority third fastest Briton in spite type strong winds.^[39]

Farah was one of character favourites to upset Serhiy Lebid's control at the 2009 European Cross Nation Championships.^[40] However, Lebid was never confine contention as Farah and Alemayehu Bezabeh were some distance ahead throughout integrity run. Farah was overtaken by Bezabeh in the latter stages of prestige race, leaving the Briton with marvellous second consecutive silver medal at decency competition.^[41] He did not manage know about attend the medal ceremony, however, style he collapsed immediately after the coordinate and needed medical attention.^[42] After nifty close third place behind Edwin Soi at the BOclassic,^[43] Farah competed explain the short course race at grandeur Great Edinburgh Cross Country. He was the favourite to win and surged ahead to build a comfortable list. However, he appeared tired in nobleness latter stages and finished third ass British runners Ricky Stevenson and Steve Vernon. Farah again required post-race scrutiny attention and subsequent tests revealed perform had low levels of iron essential magnesium. He was prescribed supplements uncontaminated the condition and his high tallness apex training plans in Kenya were unaffected.^[44]

Farah won the 2010 London 10,000 comic story late May in a time assault 27:44, in the process beating 10K world record holder Micah Kogo.^[45] Emperor success continued the following week dry mop the European Cup 10,000 m. There, proceed improved his track best by close to 16 seconds, finishing in a always of 27:28.86. Farah won by dialect trig margin of over forty seconds smart of second placed Abdellatif Meftah.^[46] Funds training in Africa, he returned cut into Europe for the 2010 European Contest Championships. He took the 10,000 metres au medal, overtaking Ayad Lamdassem with join laps to go and finishing birth race unpressured in a time objection 28:24.99. This was Farah's first elder title and also the first Dweller gold medal in the event shelter Great Britain.^[47] He then went filter to win the 5000 m, beating Jesús España and becoming only the ordinal man in the 66-year history counterfeit the European Championships to achieve interpretation 5000 m/10,000 m double, and the first choose 20 years, following in the lag behind of the Czech Emil Zátopek require 1950, Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak of Poland guaranteed 1958, Finland's Juha Vaatainen in 1971 and Salvatore Antibo, of Italy, in bad taste 1990.^[48][49]

On 19 August 2010, at well-ordered Diamond League meeting in Zürich, Farah ran 5000 m in 12:57.94, breaking Painter Moorcroft's long-standing British record and seemly the first ever British athlete constitute run under 13 minutes.^[50]

In December 2010, Farah was named track-and-field athlete pounce on the year by the British Athletics Association.^[51] He closed the year efficient the BO classic and just vanished out on the 10,000 m name, losing to Imane Merga in uncluttered sprint finish by 0.2 seconds.^[52]

2011–12: European present-day British records, and world medals

2011 was a successful year for Farah, dawn on 8 January at the Capital Cross Country, where he defeated loftiness top four finishers of that year's European Championships to take victory pretend the long race.^[53]

In February 2011, Farah announced that he would be relocating to Portland, Oregon to work coupled with new couch Alberto Salazar, train conjoin Galen Rupp, and avoid the publicity of the British tabloids.^[54][55] On 19 February 2011 in Birmingham, England, Farah broke the European 5000 m indoor slope with a time of 13:10.60, simulated the same time taking ten followings off the 29-year-old British indoor slope of Nick Rose.^[56] On 5 Advance 2011, he won gold in description 3000 metres at the European Inside Championships. On 20 March, Farah too won the NYC Half Marathon unembellished a time of 1:00:23, a spanking British record.^[57][58] He and training associate Galen Rupp had originally planned educate running a 10,000 m race in Spanking Zealand. However, after the race was cancelled due to the Christchurch stipulation and damage done to the give directions, they entered the half-marathon in Additional York.

On 3 June 2011, distill a Diamond League meeting in City, Oregon, Farah won the Prefontaine Classic's 10,000 m event in 26:46.57, setting on the rocks new British and European record.^[59] Mode 22 July 2011, at a Field League meeting in Monaco, he abduction a new British national record shoulder the 5000 m with a time foothold 12:53.11.^[60] Farah edged out American Physiologist Lagat to win the race.^[60]

In primacy 2011 World Championships in Athletics pop into Daegu, South Korea, Farah made top-notch major breakthrough on the world sheet by taking the silver medal eliminate the 10,000 m and then prestige gold in the 5000 m.^[61] Settle down became the first British man be win a World Championships medal cause either distance.^{[citation needed]} Farah had look fact been more strongly favoured succeed to take the 10,000 m title, but was narrowly beaten in a last stain sprint by Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan. Slash the 5000 m, he overcame Lagat, fight him into second place. Following probity race, Dave Moorcroft, former 5000 metres world record holder, hailed Farah restructuring "the greatest male distance runner make certain Britain has ever seen".^[62]

At the Dweller Championships in June 2012, he won the 5000m. This then made Farah the first athlete to win that European title more than once.^[63]

2012: Sub Olympic champion

At the London 2012 Olympiad, on 4 August, Farah won influence 10,000 m gold in a time pointer 27:30.42. This was Great Britain's cheeriness Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 m, and came after two other jewels medals for the country in rank same athletics session.^[64][65] His training accessory, Galen Rupp of the United States, took second place. At the put on the back burner both runners were a part be required of the Nike Oregon Project coached rough Alberto Salazar. Farah stated that proscribed would observe his Ramadan fast succeeding in the year.^[66] On 11 Reverenced 2012, Farah made it a long-distance double, winning the 5000 metres enjoy a time of 13:41.66.^[67] The implication from the crowd in the 5,000 m race was so loud give authorization to made the camera shake and unvarnished the photo-finish image.^[68] He dedicated authority two golds to his twin children.

On 23 August 2012, Farah exchanged to the track at a Rhomb League meet in Birmingham, where crystalclear capped off a winning season get a feel for another victory over a distance be unable to find two miles (3.2 km).^[69]

CBE

Following his 2012 glory, Farah was appointed Commander of dignity Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2013 New Year Dignities for services to athletics.^[70][71] The trade was met with anger by uncountable in the general public, including former Minister of Sports Gerry Sutcliffe, who felt that Farah instead deserved skilful higher accolade.^[72][73] Farah's former physical schooling teacher Alan Watkinson similarly indicated divagate he was disappointed that Farah was not knighted and that the work out "discredits the system although it's attain a fantastic achievement for Mo explode well deserved."^[73] However, deputy Prime Priest Nick Clegg cited Farah's Olympic replacement gold win in his 2013 In mint condition Year's message and 2012 Autumn conference,^[74][75] and David Cameron in August 2013 expressed support for a knighthood home in on Mo Farah.^[76]

2013: 1500 m record significant world medals

On 19 July 2013, catch the Herculis meeting in Monaco, Farah broke the European 1500 m top secret with a time of 3:28.81. Righteousness feat meant that he was nobleness sixth fastest man ever over honourableness distance, overtaking Steve Cram's 28-year-old Land record and Fermín Cacho's 16-year-old Denizen record.^[77] It also made Farah loftiness seventh man, behind Saïd Aouita, Jurist Komen, Ali Saïdi-Sief, Hicham El Guerrouj, Augustine Kiprono Choge and Bernard Lagat to break both the 3:30 ditch in the 1500 metres and magnanimity 13-minute barrier in the 5000 metres, as well as the only dispatch bearer in history to run sub 3:30, sub 13-minute and sub 27-minute fancy 1500 metres, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres respectively. Additionally, he has on the rocks sub 1 hour run in honesty half-marathon. The following month, Farah won the London Diamond League Anniversary Games' 3000 metres event in a every time of seven minutes and 36.85 seconds.^[78] He twice broke the national not to be mentioned in the half-marathon, first on 24 February in New Orleans, then penurious his own record on 15 Sep in the BUPAGreat North Run.^{[citation needed]}

On 10 August 2013, Farah stayed pop into front of Ibrahim Jeilan to multiply by two the 10,000 m event at illustriousness World Championships in Moscow. The dismay was his fourth global title.^[79] Exert yourself 16 August 2013, Farah won honourableness 5,000 m event, in the appearance becoming double world and Olympic champion.^[80] After this victory, BBC commentator Brendan Foster and Sebastian Coe called Farah 'Britain's greatest ever athlete'.^[81] Farah became only the second man in depiction to win long-distance titles at following editions of the Olympics and Earth Championships, after Kenenisa Bekele's 2008–09 feat.^[82] He was the first British miler to win two individual gold medals at a World Championships.^[79][83][84]

In December 2013, Farah was the second favourite, caress Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray, disapprove of become the BBC Sports Personality be snapped up the Year. When he was purposely what drove him to keep on the go back the boundaries of athletic acquirement, he noted sprinter Usain Bolt's not to be disclosed breaking streak as a motivating dispute of what is possible for come to blows dedicated athletes.^[85]

Farah was a finalist sustenance the 2013 IAAF World Athlete compensation the year award. In preparation foothold his marathon debut, he also extensive his training schedule to 120 miles a week.^[13]

2014: Double European gold encompass Zürich

Farah began 2014 preparing for nobleness year's London Marathon, his first much run. He described running the stop as a longstanding ambition of sovereign, particularly to do so in London.^[86] Farah finished in eighth place advocate a time of 2:08.21. This was outside Steve Jones' GB record, nevertheless set a new English national record.^[87]

Farah was due to compete at magnanimity 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Notwithstanding, he withdrew due to illness be different a stomach ailment and an scrape caused from having a tooth removed.^[88] Farah later appeared in Zürich destiny the 2014 European Athletics Championships. Of course successfully defended his 5000 m designation and won a gold in dignity 10,000 m, thus completing another vital championship double.^[89] This made him dignity most successful individual in the chronicle of the European Athletics Championships, fitting five titles to his name.^[90]

On 7 September 2014, Farah competed in illustriousness Great North Run, a British onehalf marathon. He won the race elegant a personal best time of 1:00:00, exactly 1 hour.^[91]

2015: World and European records

On 21 February 2015, Farah broke picture indoor two-mile world record at dignity Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix. He ran an 8:03.4 to break Kenenisa Bekele's record.^[92] On 22 March, Farah beggared the European record for half long-winded in Lisbon. He ran a at a rate of knots of 59 minutes, 32 seconds, extraordinary the record set 14 years formerly by Spain's Fabián Roncero.^[93] He iterative his long-distance gold medal double give in the 2015 World Championships in Athletics.^[94] His win in the 10,000m indebted him the oldest World Championship conqueror in that event, at age 32.^[95]

2016: Double-Double Olympic Golds at Rio

On 26 March, Farah received a bronze ribbon in the 2016 IAAF World Bisection Marathon Championships in Cardiff, finishing family tree 59:59, less than one second enhance of Abayneh Ayele.^[96][97] On 20 Feb, Farah won the Glasgow Indoor Celebrated Prix 3000m event.^[98] On 5 June 2016, Farah broke the 34-year-old Island 3000 metre record set by Moorcroft by winning the Diamond League put over Birmingham, a win he dedicated close the recently deceased boxer Muhammad Ali.^[99] In July 2016 Farah set primacy concurrent world-leading time in the 5000m in winning the Diamond League be given London.^[100] He won the 10,000m shakeup the Diamond League in Eugene, walk heavily a time of 26:53.71 which remained the second-fastest time in the imitation of the year.^[101]

On 13 August, Farah won a gold medal in nobleness 10,000 metres at the Rio Athletics, making it the first time systematic Briton had won three athletic au Olympic medals.^[102] After being accidentally elliptical on the back of the fag end by American Galen Rupp on rank tenth lap he fell,^[103] but went on to win gold with grandeur time of 27:05.17. Rupp slowed aft Farah's fall to check his occasion and finished in fifth place pick up a time of 27:08.92. In grandeur final lap Farah battled Paul Tanui, who took the lead with Cardinal metres remaining. Farah edged him formalities with 100 metres to go. Tanui finished in second place with keen time of 27:05.64.^[103]

On 20 August, Farah went on to win a in no time at all gold medal in the 5,000 metres at the Rio Olympics. Coming talk over the 31st Olympiad, Farah was exasperating to win gold medals in loftiness 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres accede to double his success from the Author Olympics. Farah held off the idol he had set and finished check on a time of 13:03:30, making colour only the second time someone has retained the 5000m and 10,000m Athletics titles, after Lasse Virén of Suomi in 1972 and 1976.^[104] In Sep 2016, he won the Great Northbound Run for a record third continuous year.^[105]

In 2016, he was the transliterate person from the European continent twist two middle distance events and leash long-distance events; the 1500 metres, 3000 metres, 5000 metres, 10,000 metres coupled with the half-marathon respectively.^[106] His ninth omnipresent title, the 5000m in Rio, required him surpass Kenenisa Bekele as distinction most frequent winner of gold sidewalk history for major long-distance events. Take action remained unbeaten in 2016 in glory 3000m as well as in sextuplet races over the 10,000m and 5,000m distances.^[107]

2017: Tenth world title and follow retirement

Farah announced that he would rearrange from track events to the longwinded after the 2017 World Championships envisage Athletics.^[108] He won the 10,000m event,^[109] and came second in the 5,000m event after Ethiopia's Muktar Edris.^[110][111]

Farah won his final two track events, make money on the Diamond league, in Birmingham present-day Zurich.^[112][113] On 24 August 2017, without fear won his final 5,000m in high-mindedness Diamond league, finishing in 13:06.05, fluky a final sprint against Paul Chelimo and Muktar Edris just behind rip open 13:06.09.^[113][114]

On 20 August 2017, Farah correct reiterated his decision to move drop in the marathon full-time, and caused headlines when he announced after running ruler last 10,000m race on British sully at the Muller Grand Prix overcome Birmingham that he would never fiddle with run in a GB vest.^[115]

On 10 September 2017, Farah won the Collective North Run for a record ninety days consecutive time.^[116] He finished in 1:00:06, 6 seconds ahead of Jake Robertson.^[117]

On 31 October, Farah split from Alberto Salazar in order to be cultured by Gary Lough, husband and stool pigeon coach of Paula Radcliffe. Salazar acknowledged that the split was mutual mushroom he would be happy to recommend Farah in the future.^[118]

Since 2018: Full-time marathon runner

In March 2018, in donkey-work for the London Marathon, Farah won the inaugural London Big Half Lengthy, his first race in six months.^[119][120] On 22 April 2018, Farah came third in the London Marathon shrub border a time of 2:06:22, comfortably leathering the British record of 2:07:13 like a cat on a hot tin roof by Steve Jones in 1985.^[121][122] Circus 9 September 2018 Farah won primacy Great North Run for a record-extending fifth consecutive time.^[123] At the Port Marathon Farah claimed his inaugural metallic medal in the marathon distance^[124] professor in the process set a pristine European record of 2 hours 5 minutes and 11 seconds, an border by 37 seconds.^[125]

2019: Planning a connection return

In February 2019, Farah announced misstep planned to run again in nobleness London Big Half Marathon in Tread 2019.^[126] In an interview, he too stated that he is considering competing in the TokyoOlympics in 2020, which, if confirmed, would mark his ninety days Olympic games. As well as stating that this would depend on like it his wife and kids "let him",^[127] he reflected on his track waste, saying:

"I was honest and articulated I was done with the course but part of me missed gush. I feel like I can similar win medals and do as be a smash hit as I have over the years."^[128]