**Sir Mo Farah: The Real Story Behind Britain’s Long-distance Legend**
Few British athletes are as instantly recognisable or beloved as Sir Mo Farah, whose dazzling performances on the track have left a lasting legacy on the nation’s sporting landscape. His triumphant double gold at the London 2012 Olympics, capped off with his iconic ‘Mo Bot’ celebration, is seared into public memory. Yet, behind the medals and the adulation is a story far more complex, shaped by loss and resilience.
Farah’s life has played out very much like the marathon races he once dominated — a journey marked by triumphs as well as deep hardship. Born far from the stadium lights, his early years were marred by conflict and upheaval in his native Somaliland, located in the northern part of Somalia.
While most fans knew him as ‘Mo Farah’, he dropped a bombshell in 2022 with his BBC documentary, ‘The Real Mo Farah’. In a move that shocked and moved the nation, Sir Mo revealed that his legal and true name at birth was Hussein Abdi Kahin. “Most people know me as Mo Farah but it’s not my name or my reality,” he told viewers, explaining that his parents had never lived in the United Kingdom.
Tragically, Farah’s father was killed in Somaliland’s civil war when Mo was just four years old, irrevocably fracturing his family. Separated from his mother, he was brought illegally to the UK under another child’s identity, Mohamed Farah, by a British woman. His harrowing account detailed a childhood spent doing chores and facing threats, with his family’s contact information cruelly destroyed, severing his ties with home. When approached for comment by the BBC, the woman alleged to have trafficked Farah as a boy declined to respond to the allegations.
For all the adversity he endured, Farah’s grit and talent propelled him to extraordinary heights. As an elite runner, he collected four Olympic gold medals and six world titles, becoming the most decorated British track athlete in history. His reputation as a fierce competitor and inspirational figure only grew with each race.
After more than two decades at the top, Farah announced his retirement from professional competition in September 2023, taking his final bow at the Great North Run. During his competitive years, and thanks to his global fame, Farah attracted a host of lucrative sponsorships and endorsement deals. Major brands like Nike, Huawei, B&M, and Save the Children partnered with him, alongside further connections with Lucozade, Bupa, Virgin Media, and Quorn.
His commercial success was as remarkable as his running, with estimates putting his net worth at around £3.76 million. This financial stability came not only from sponsorships and prizes, but also from shrewd investments and a keen sense of how to capitalise on his public image.
Not content to simply rest on his laurels, Farah set his sights on new ventures after stepping off the track. His next ambitious project is RunGP, a concept aiming to marry the thrill of professional running with the spectacle of Formula 1. Debuting in May with an event at Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit, RunGP promises to energise athletics by hosting team-based running events at iconic F1 tracks. “When I watch athletics, to me, it’s not as exciting as it once was,” Farah admitted in an interview, underscoring his desire to inject fresh excitement into the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Despite retiring from competitive running, Farah’s influence on British sport and society endures. His story — from a boy trafficked into the UK and forced into domestic servitude, to a multiple Olympic champion and knight of the realm — is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It also draws attention to issues of child trafficking and the power of sport to change lives.
As the London Marathon approaches, many will be looking out for Mo Farah, whether as a competitor, spectator, or ambassador. His presence is a reminder that behind every champion lies a unique journey, and sometimes the greatest victories take place away from the public gaze.
Sir Mo Farah’s legacy is not just written in medals and records, but in his continued efforts to inspire and innovate — both on and off the track.