Sir Mo Farah's Harrowing Childhood Secret: Trafficked and Treated 'Like a Slave'
In a deeply moving revelation, Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah has shared the traumatic story of his childhood, disclosing that he was trafficked to England at the age of nine and forced into domestic servitude under a false identity. The athlete, currently appearing on I'm A Celebrity: All Stars, broke his silence in 2022, shocking the world with a lifelong secret he had concealed for over thirty years.
A Life Built on a Lie: The False Identity
Sir Mo's real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin, not Mohamed Farah. He was brought from Somalia to the United Kingdom illegally using counterfeit documents, taking the place of another child named Mohamed Farah, who still resides in Somalia and has never visited Britain. This deception began after his father was killed during the Somali civil war in the late 1980s, prompting his desperate mother to send Mo and his twin brother Hassan to live with an uncle in Djibouti.
Instead of finding safety, Mo was trafficked to the UK in 1993 by a woman who pretended to be his mother during the journey. Upon arrival, he was put to work as a domestic servant for a family with young children, tasked with cleaning, cooking, and childcare. The woman threatened him, warning that if he ever wanted to see his family again, he must never speak the truth. Mo recalls often locking himself in the bathroom to cry, feeling isolated and enslaved.
Discovery and Desperation in a New Country
The reality of his situation became starkly clear when the man meeting them at the airport inquired about his real son. At the family's home, the woman destroyed the contact details Mo had for his only relative in the UK, leaving him trapped. "At that moment I knew I was in trouble," Sir Mo recounted. For two years, he was kept from school, until he was finally allowed to attend Feltham Community College in South West London at age eleven.
Struggling with English and exhibiting "incredible behaviour difficulties," as noted by his form tutor Sarah Rennie, Mo appeared unkempt and uncared for, with his family never attending school meetings. His salvation came through running, a coping mechanism for his fear, and through PE teacher Alan Watkinson, who became a trusted confidant. Mo revealed to Alan that he was not the son of the people he lived with, that his name was false, and that he had been brought to the UK for labour.
Path to Citizenship and Olympic Glory
Social services intervened, and Mo found refuge with Kinsi, the mother of a Somali schoolfriend, who took him in for seven years. Remarkably, Kinsi was the sister of the man who had met Mo at the airport—the father of the real Mohamed Farah. This period marked a "remarkable transformation" in Mo's life, as described by Alan Watkinson, with his running talent flourishing dramatically.
At fourteen, when selected to compete abroad, it emerged that Mo lacked proper documentation. Alan helped him secure British citizenship, though legally, this was later deemed "obtained by fraud or misrepresentation," risking revocation. Despite this, Mo's athletic career soared; he won double Olympic gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at both the 2012 and 2016 Games, becoming a national hero.
Reunions and Reflections
Sir Mo's wife Tania, whom he met at school, only learned the full truth before their marriage in 2010, describing herself as "gobsmacked." In his quest for answers, Mo visited Somaliland to reunite with his mother, Aisha, who had spent years unaware he was in the UK. She explained that she sent him away for safety during the war, never knowing his fate. Mo also reconnected with his twin brother Hassan, a telecoms engineer in Somalia, who spoke of the enduring bond despite their separation.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Sir Mo admitted that running saved him and that he lied about his past for self-protection. He has since received overwhelming support since sharing his story, encouraging others to speak out. His journey from a trafficked child to an Olympic champion underscores resilience in the face of adversity.
Resources for Victims of Modern Slavery
If you suspect someone is a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, do not confront them directly, as this may endanger them. Instead, contact authorities:
- Call the Modern Slavery Helpline at 08000 121 700 or use their online form.
- Report worker mistreatment to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority at 0800 432 0804 or intelligence@gla.gov.uk.
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
- Reach out to the police or specialist anti-slavery organisations.
