Legendary Mo Farah Was Illegally Trafficked to the UK as a Child; Finally Reveals His Real Identity: “She Ripped It Up and Put It in the Bin”

Published 07/12/2022, 7:45 AM EDT

Sir Mo Farah is the most decorated long-distance runner in history. He won the gold in the 5000m as well as the 10000m marathons at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Well-known as the most successful British track athlete, Mo startled the world with his unique, bouncy running style. He became the first-ever British athlete to win more than 1 gold medal during the same World Championships. Farah also created a world record when he won the 2018 Chicago Marathon 2:05:11. In 2017, Farah received his knighthood, adding the title of ‘Sir’ before his name.

With such a glorious record, Sir Mo Farah’s name will hold a special place in the history books forever. However, in a startling new revelation, Sir Mo talked about his actual history, which contains some haunting memories.

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Sir Mo Farah reveals his true story

Until two days ago, the world believed that Sir Mo Farah was a Somalian refugee who had flown over to the UK with his parents. But in a heart-wrenching new interview, Farah revealed his true identity and the story of how he came to the UK with a woman he had never seen in his life.

Sir Mo’s parents have never been to the UK. His mother lives in Somaliland with his two brothers. His father was shot dead in a stray gunfire when he was four. At age eight or nine, Farah says he was brought to the UK by an unknown woman. The woman told Farah she was taking him to Europe to visit some relatives. At the airport, Farah got the instructions to say his name was Mohamed.

Upon arriving in the UK, the unnamed woman took Farah to a flat in Hounslow and tore the piece of paper that had the contact details of Mo’s relatives. “Right in front of me, she ripped it up and put it in the bin. At that moment, I knew I was in trouble.” Sir Mo had to do housework and childcare if he wanted to eat. The woman told him to not say anything to anyone if he wanted to see his family again. “Often I would just lock myself in the bathroom and cry.”

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For the first three or four years, Farah did not go to school as he wasn’t allowed to. But, as he turned 12, he enrolled in Feltham Community College. Enrolled as a Somalian refugee, he came to school unkempt and uncared for. And his parents visited none of the parents’ meets.

A new life for Mo

While at school, Sir Mo found an escape (mentally) when he hit the athletics track. His PE teacher, Alan Watkinson, noticed the change in the boy. He said, “The only language he seemed to understand was the language of PE and sport.” Sir Mo refers to his PE time as “the only thing I could do to get away from this [living situation] was to get out and run.” Farah eventually disclosed everything to Mr. Watkinson.

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Alan immediately called social services who got another Somali family to foster Farah. “I felt like a lot of stuff was lifted off my shoulders, and I felt like me. That’s when Mo came out – the real Mo.” In July 2000, they granted him British citizenship under the name ‘Mo Farah.’

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He would become the greatest long-distance male track athlete the world has ever seen, winning multiple championships and Olympic titles. And as for his real name? It’s Hussein Abdi Kahin, who hails from the breakaway island of Somaliland.

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Written by:

Naman Gopal is a US Sports Writer at EssentiallySports. Naman is an Undergraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, with a minor’s degree in Cinematography from the Maharashtra Institute of Technology. An ardent fan of basketball and soccer, Naman was once a national level soccer player himself.

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

Legendary Mo Farah Was Illegally Trafficked to the UK as a Child; Finally Reveals His Real Identity: “She Ripped It Up and Put It in the Bin”

Sir Mo Farah reveals his true story

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A new life for Mo