Mo Farah first came to my attention during 2010 at the European Athletics Championships. I have never followed athletics particularly closely outside the major events but watched a bit more of these games than I usually would have.
I didn't even see a complete race of his but did catch an interview with him after one race. I was immediately impressed with his humility, honesty and totally natural demeanour. He just came across as a really likeable bloke. From this point on I have followed his career and had already looked into his background some time before his career highlight (so far!) moments of glory in the last few weeks (August 2012)
For those that are unaware of his upbringing he came to Britain with his British born father when he was 8 years old from that most troubled African country of Somalia. He spoke no English on arrival and his preferred sport at this time was football. His turn of speed caught the eye and over time with help and guidance he turned his focus to athletics. His upbringing and early childhood had ingrained in him a trait to be grateful and thankful for a talent that he would not waste and one which he would devote his future to.
His Muslim faith lent itself well to his lifestyle and development in the most demanding of sporting fields that is distance running and his rise to the top of this nation's consciousness was complete on the evening of Saturday 11 August 2012. I grew up in the Coe/Ovett and Daley Thompson era of athletics but never have I willed an athlete over the line with such emotion and enthusiasm as I did in the 5000m on that Saturday evening. It was a truly remarkable sporting moment and re-invented my faith in humanity that it is possible to reach the pinnacle of your chosen sport from the most under-privileged of starts in life. No one of his generation born in this country can truly understand what he has overcome to reach that moment at the end of the 5000m. Obviously, this made it all the more special.
Mo Farah is now 29 years old and it's thought that his next goal is the marathon. If he can stay fit then with his dedication and ongoing commitment it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could do it all again in that event. Let's hope the impending birth of his twins don't give him too many sleepless nights!
Mo Farah....we salute you !
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