Somalia-born British international track athlete Mo Farah knew something had to change if he was to become world champion. So he made the decision to move to the US in February last year to train. He also spent more time training in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Within six months he won 5,000m gold at the World championships in Daegu to prove his credentials as one of the best distance runners in the world.

His unbelievable performance was not only the biggest win by a European male since 1983 but also the first long distance gold won by a British male at a global championship.

The 28-year old Londoner had already won silver in the 10,000m at the world championships - a race he had looked set to win gold in until he was piped by Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jeilan just metres from the line.

Farah took some time off his busy schedule to talk to The Muslim News about the pressures of being the poster boy for the Olympics, his experience of training in East Africa and his move to the US.

How did you get into long distance running?

My PE teacher at school spotted my talent for running when I entered into a couple of races at the age of 13.

Why did you relocate your training base from London to Oregon in the USA?

I had already achieved success at European level, however decided that if I wanted to achieve similar success on the World stage that something had to change. Alberto Salazar is a great coach and I knew that he would be able to take me to the next level. It was a big decision but it seems to be paying off.

You went to Ethiopia and Kenya to train a while back – many observers said you came back fitter and more battle-hardened athlete – what is the difference between the East African and Western approach to endurance racing?

Training in Africa is very different from training anywhere else. The athletes there live very basic lifestyles. They just eat, sleep and train. After spending time there and training with those guys, it made me tougher both physically and mentally.

Last year has been a remarkable - you have broken so many records and won so many titles. How much of your success do you attribute to your new coach Alberto Salazar?

Alberto gave me a lot of confidence right from the start. He made me believe that I could be the best in the world. He had a big part to play in my success in 2011.

The standard you have set has made you the favourite for both distances in London 2012 – do you feel extra pressure going into the games both because of your 2011 record and especially as a Londoner?

There is definitely a high level of expectation for me to win in London 2012 as I am going in as the reigning World champion in the 5,000m and silver medallist in the 10,000m although I do not see it as pressure. I am just looking forward to racing in front of the home crowd; they always give me massive support.

What do you think will go through your mind when you start the Olympics?

I will just focus on what I need to do as always when I enter into a major competition. This opportunity will only come around once and so there will be no room for mistakes.

Do you think your success has inspired minority communities to consider athletics as a career choice?

I think my success has inspired communities of all races across Britain, which is so humbling to see. I hope I have been able to encourage people of all religions to take up sport.

Finally if you were not an athlete what other profession would you want to have tried and why?

Once I had discovered that I could have a career in running, that is all I wanted to do. I have always loved sport so if I did not become an athlete, maybe I would have been involved in coaching somehow as I love to work with kids too.

Source: The Muslim News

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