Twin Ambitions - My Autobiography
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Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational
2008 event
2010 event
Poland, World Cross Country Championships (2010)
Portland, MF moves to
Portugal, World Cross Country Championships (2000)
Potchefstroom UKA training camp
Potter, Graham
Prefontaine, Steve ‘Pre’
Prefontaine Classic Diamond League
2011 event
2012 event
2013 event
Premiership
Q
qaat
Qatari Athletics Federation
Quinn, Kevin
R
racism
Radcliffe, Isla
Radcliffe, Paula
European Championships (2006)
based at Font-Romeu
discovers MF is to be a father
Redgrave, Sir Steve
Redknapp, Jamie
Redknapp, Louise
Reebok
Richmond Park
Rio de Janeiro, Olympics (2016)
Ritzenhein, Dathan
Oxy High Performance Meet (2012)
Moscow World Championships (2013)
Robinson, Dan
Rome Golden Gala
Romero, Juan Carlos
Rupp, Galen
training partner to MF
New York half-marathon (2011)
Daegu World Championships (2011)
Oxy HP Meet (2012)
Prefontaine Classic Diamond League (2012)
pre-race routine
London Olympics (2012)
Oxy HP Meet (2013)
Moscow World Championships (2013)
Rutherford, Greg
Rybakov, Anatoliy
S
Sagna, Bacary
St Etienne-St Galmier, World Cross Country Championships (2005)
St Mary’s University, London
St Moritz
Salazar, Alberto
meets MF
Nike Oregon Project
MF investigated by the FBI
starts training MF
Daegu World Championships (2011)
Oxy High Performance Meet (2012)
London Olympics (2012)
Prefontaine Classic Diamond League (2013)
MF and marathons
Salem, Gamal Belal
San Giorgio
European Cross Country Championships (2006)
European Cross Country Championships (2007)
Sánchez, Sergio
Sanders, Nicola
Saramago, Bruno
Sato, Yuki
Sayers, Goldie
Schofield, Phillip
Schools International
Scott, Dave
Shaftesbury Barnet
Shaheen, Saif Saaeed
Sheffield, English Schools Track & Field Championships (1998)
Sihine, Sileshi ‘Mr Silver’
Silva, Fernando
Simms, Ricky
MF’s adidas sponsorship
MF’s decision to try marathons
MF marries Tania
MF’s Achilles tendonitis
MF and Alberto Salsazar
increased interest in MF
London Olympics (2012)
Sinner, Mike
Soi, Edwin
Beijing Olympics (2008)
BoClassic International (2010)
Diamond League (2010)
Istanbul World Indoor Championships (2012)
Prefontaine Classic Diamond League (2013)
Moscow World Championships (2013)
Solinsky, Chris
Somalia
running in
Somalialand
MF returns to
MF visits
Songok, Boniface
Flagstaff
Beijing Olympic Trials (2008)
Beijing Olympics (2008)
Speaight, Neil
sponsorship and athletics
SportsAid
Stanford, Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational
2008 event
2010 event
Stewart, Ian
Storey, Alan
as MF’s coach
training schedule
MF returns to Somaliland
European Cross Country Championships (2006)
Beijing Olympics preparation
MF leaves
MF marries Tania
MF returns to
Stuttgart, IAAF World Athletics Finals (2007)
Super Saturday, London Olympics (2012)
Surrey Counties Intermediate League
Sweatshop
Switzerland, World Championship Cross Country (2003)
T
Tadese, Zersenay
Daegu World Championships (2011)
London Olympics (2012)
Tahri, Bouabdellah
Tanui, Moses
Tanui, Paul, World Championships (2013)
Tanui, William
Team GB
Tegenkamp, Matt
Tergat, Paul
Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Eton
Thompson, Chris
at Loughborough University
race wins
Barcelona European Championships (2010)
Diamond League (2010)
British 000m record
Track & Field Championships (English Schools)
Turin, European Indoor Championships (2009)
U
ugali
UK Athletics (UKA)
Potchefstroom training camp
MF trains in Kenya
Kaptagat camp
English Institute of Sport (EIS)
US Track & Field team
V
Vaatainen, Juha
Vermaelen, Thomas
Vernon, Steve
Viren, Lasse
W
Walcott, Theo
Walker, Andrew
Walliams, David
Wanjiru, Sammy
Waterfield, Peter
Watkinson, Alan
MF’s talent
MF joins Borough of Hounslow AC
friendship with MF
MF starts competing
secures indefinite leave to remain for MF
MF return from Florida
moves schools
MF at St Mary’s
marries
as MF’s best man
London Olympics (2012)
Webb, Alan
Wénger, Arsene
Weymouth, English Schools Cross Country Championships (1996)
Whitby, Benedict
Whiteman, Anthony
Potchefstroom training camp
Sam Haughian’s death
Wide World of Sports Complex, Florida
Williams, Robbie
Wills, Rebecca
Wilshere, Jack
Windsor Slough & Eton & Hounslow Athletic Club
World Athletics Finals (2007)
World Championship Cross Country (2003)
World Championships
Osaka (2007)
Berlin (2009)
Daegu (2011)
Moscow (2013)
Beijing (2015)
World Junior Cross Country Championships
Morocco (1998)
Portugal (2000)
Belgium (2001)
World Cross Country Championships
Saint-Galmier (2005)
Mobassa (2007)
Poland (2010)
World Indoor Championships (2012)
World Junior Athletics Championships
Wright, Ian
Y
Yelling, Hayley
Z
Zanzibar
Zápotek, Emil
Zoubaa, Khalid
Zurich, Diamond League meeting
As a young student at Feltham Community College – I started two weeks late after breaking my collarbone playing football.
Running in the English Schools Cross Country Champion
ships in 1997, when I beat Malcolm Hassan to win my first English Schools title.
Receiving an award at school – to the right is Alan Watkinson, my PE teacher and the guy who made it all happen for me.
In 1998 I suffered a rare defeat and finished second at Cheltenham behind Lee McCash (337). Lee was a tough competitor, one of the few runners who seriously pushed me.
On my way to another English Schools win in July 1999. After my trip to Florida I was determined to make it as an athlete. Nothing was going to stop me.
Winning my gold medal at the 1500 metres at the 1999 English Schools Championships in Bury St Edmunds.
Beating Malcolm Hassan on the way to the under-17s at Crystal Palace. There was a big rivalry between me and Malcolm, a phenomenal runner.
Me as a junior athlete with Dave Moorcroft. Many years later I broke his British record at 5000 metres.
Cycling alongside some of the older guys at Bushy Park.
Competing for Great Britain in the European Junior Championships in December 1999 in Slovenia. I helped the team to win gold.
Running cross country was a lot less fun when it was muddy and cold!
I reached the finals of the 5000 metres at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Chile. Here with Chris Thompson, one of my fierce rivals at junior cross country.
Sam Haughian had a reputation as one of the brightest prospects in British athletics – and the runner I looked up to the most as a junior.
I benefited a lot from training alongside guys like Benedict Whitby, the steeplechaser.
I made lots of good friends at Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow – among them Scott Overall.
One of my best mates, Darren Chin, in the 60 metres heats at the 2005 European Indoor Championships.
Before I shaved my head, I had plaits! Tania would often plait my hair for me after school.
Conrad Milton shouting encouragement from the sidelines. I used to watch him coaching guys like Sam Haughian and Benedict Whitby and think, ‘That’s where I need to be.’
Happy days working at the Sweatshop branch in Teddington.
Bushy Park – where I’d often go for training runs with the Kenyans.
I’d go running in Richmond Park with Benedict Whitby and Sam Haughian on our lunch break at the Sweatshop. They ran insanely fast.
At Alan Watkinson’s wedding in July 2003. I presented Alan with a poster of me winning my first English Schools Cross Country at Newark.
At St Mary’s in 2004 where I did most of my training.
Running in ‘Sam’s Run’ in memory of Sam Haughian, a year after his death in a car accident in Johannesburg in April 2004.
I finished a disappointing ninth in Melbourne in 2006. Craig Mottram is wearing yellow, behind Benjamin Limo (left) and eventual winner Augustine Choge. I stayed with Benjamin Limo’s family the following year on my first trip to Kaptagat and we remain close friends.
Jesús España nudges ahead of me to win the 5000 metres in Gothenburg. There was one hundredth of a second between us.
Back to winning ways at the European Cross Country Championships in San Giorgio, Italy. I crushed Sergiy Lebid, the hot favourite.
Running the Great North Mile in 2006 – competing on the Saturday before the Great North Run is something of a tradition for me.
With the two Alans – Alan Storey (left), my coach at St Mary’s and beyond, and Alan Watkinson. In the background is my old sixth-form school, Isleworth and Syon.
I badly overcooked it in the lead-up to Beijing and failed to qualify from the heats. I was devastated.
Me and Hassan wore the same clothes when I returned to Hargeisa; it was like reliving our childhood all over again. Hassan even shaved his head in honour of me, so we now had the same bald head!
High up in the mountains at Iten – I was the first British athlete to get out there and train with the Kenyans.
Above and Below: With my beautiful daughter Rhianna. From the moment we first met, the two of us hit it off immediately and developed an immense bond. The rest is history.
Trying out my new disguise at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin – Afro Mo.
Getting married in April 2010. It was a beautiful day: everyone was there to see us tie the knot.
My first major title at Barcelona in 2010. I became the first Briton to land 10,000 metres gold at the European Championships.
My old friend Chris Thompson won silver to make it a one-two for Great Britain.
Winning the double in Barcelona helped ease the pain of Beijing – and thrust me into the limelight.
As soon as I won the 5000 metres I sank to my knees and whispered a prayer.
Me, Tania, Rhianna and Colin Nell, Tania’s brother, celebrating after the European Championships, enjoying a bit of down time in Barcelona.
Everyone who lives in Iten knows about running. There are no luxuries or distractions – you’re there to train hard. I soon began to reap the benefits and I’ve trained there every year since.
Alberto Salazar, a coach considered something of a genius, and the guy who got me over the line.
My victory at the Pre Classic 10,000 metres in Eugene was the turning point of my career on the world stage. All of a sudden, I was a threat.
With Galen Rupp at the Occidental High Performance meet in Eagle Rock, LA.
For me to win the 10,000 metres at the Pre Classic was phenomenal. Nobody saw it coming. The crowd went nuts.
Daegu, 2011: Out of nowhere, this guy just tore past me … Ibrahim Jeilan.
Having my family with me in Daegu helped me to overcome the pain of losing in the 10,000 metres – and come back to win the 5000 metres gold.
Ivan Gazidis invited me down to Arsenal as an honorary guest after Daegu. I displayed my gold medal to the fans with Rhianna by my side.
In January 2012 I got to train with the Arsenal team at London Colney, including Theo Walcott (pictured).
We set up the Mo Farah Foundation in 2011 to provide life-saving aid to millions facing starvation and disease in East Africa.
4 August, 2012. I look over my shoulder and see Galen right behind me, hardly able to believe that I’ve just won the race and my training partner has finished second.
Celebrating track-side with Tania after winning the 10,000 metres Olympic gold. We had both made so many sacrifices to get to this point.
Rhianna comes running onto the track to celebrate my win.
Doing the Mobot after winning the 10,000 metres.
With two laps to go, I pull clear of Gebremeskel … the stadium erupts.
The crowd in the Olympic Stadium played a huge part in my victories: they gave me a sixth gear.
With Usain Bolt after receiving my 5000 metres Olympic gold. I know Usain from way back.
At a summit meeting at 10 Downing Street to discuss world hunger with the Prime Minister, Pele and Haile Gebrselassie.
Doing the Mobot in front of a packed Trafalgar Square. Everywhere I went after the Olympics there were huge crowds.
At the birth of our twins, Aisha and Amani. I was so happy I was bouncing off the walls.
Me and Hassan in front of the flag of Somaliland, the country of our birth.
It was lovely to spend time with mum and Hassan when they came over to London after the Olympics – and I got to take them around Bushy Park.
At Nike HQ with my main training partner, Galen Rupp.
Neil Black has been my physio from day one. He’s the best physio an athlete could ask for.
At the 2013 Anniversary Games where I won the 3000 metres. Being there brought back some great memories.
At our first fundraising ball for the Mo Farah Foundation. Interest in tickets exploded after the Olympics – we ended up raising over £200,000 for the Foundation.
Receiving my CBE from the Prince of Wales in June 2013. A memorable occasion.
Getting ready for a run in Beaverton with Galen (right). For the first few weeks under Alberto I was beyond exhausted.
The 2013 World
Championships in Moscow. The 10,000 metres final, two years on from Daegu. Everything about that race was the same … But this time, I won.
16 August 2013 – the day I become only the second man after Kenenisa Bekele to do the ‘double-double.’
The 5000 metres was my fifth global outdoor title – making me the most decorated athlete in British history.
At the Great North Run with two legends of the track, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie. Next year it’s the marathon.
Turning out for Arsenal in a charity match. I’m looking forward to playing football when I retire.
We brought the twins to watch Arsenal two weeks after they were born. Arsène Wenger ended up cradling Aisha in his arms. That made my day.