Sir Mo Farah has revealed that he was “trafficking” in the UK illegally under the name of another child, saying he wants to tell his real story “whatever it costs”.
The four-time Olympic champion said in a BBC documentary that Hussein Abdi Kahin was born, brought to the UK with a woman and her children under the name of another boy named Mohamed Farah.
Sir Mo said “the truth is I am not who you think I am” as he spoke of the traumatic events of his childhood after leaving war-ravaged Somaliland in East Africa.
A lawyer warned him that even though he was trafficked into the country when he was a young child and told the truth to the authorities, there is a “real risk” that he may be stripped of his British citizenship.
However, it is understood that the Home Office will not take any action against Sir Mo.
Speaking on the documentary The Real Mo Farah, the father of four, 39, said: “Most people know me as Mo Farah, but it’s not my name, or it’s not reality.
“The real story is that I was born in Somaliland, in northern Somalia, as Hussein Abdi Kahin. Despite what I have said in the past, my parents never lived in the UK.
“When I was four, my father was killed in the civil war, you know that as a family we were destroyed.
“I was separated from my mother and taken to the UK illegally under the name of another child named Mohamed Farah.”
Sir Mo, who became the first British athletics athlete to win four Olympic gold medals, said his children have motivated him to be honest about his past.
Sir Mo’s wife, Tania Nell, said that the year before her wedding in 2010 she realized that “many pieces were missing from her story”, but that she finally “wore it down with interrogation” and said the truth.
Image: Sir Mo Farah with his wife Tania Nell during the shooting of the documentary
“I knew I was in trouble”
During the documentary, Sir Mo said he thought he was going to Europe to live with relatives and recalled that he had gone through a UK passport check under the guise of Mohamed at the age of nine.
He said: “I had all the contact details of my relative and once we got to her house, the lady took it out of me and right in front of me she ripped it off and put it in the bin and at that moment I knew that I was in trouble. “
Sir Mo said he “had no fond memories” of his childhood home in Hounslow, where he was told to work from home if he wanted to eat.
“If I wanted to eat in my mouth, my job was to take care of these kids, shower them, cook them, clean them and she said to me,‘ If you ever want to see your family again, don’t say anything . you say anything, they will take you away “.
Sir Mo finally told the truth to his physical education teacher, Alan Watkinson, and moved in with his friend’s mother, Kinsi, who “really took great care” of him, and it was over. remaining seven years.
It was Watkinson who applied for Sir Mo’s British citizenship, which he described as a “long process”, and on 25 July 2000, Sir Mo was recognized as a British citizen.
Sir Mo, who christened his son Hussein with his real identity, said: “I often think of the other Mohamed Farah, the guy I took the place on the plane, and I really hope he’s okay.
“Wherever I am, I carry his name, and that could cause problems for me and my family now.”
“You’re still my brother”
As it happens, the documentary ends with Sir Mo talking to the real Mohamed Farah.
Speaking by telephone, Sir Mo said, “I cannot believe that I speak to you. I bear your name and for many, many years I carry it with me, and I am proud to know what I have. Achieved.
“But as a person I always wonder where Mohamed is, okay, what would life have been like for him?
“I think about it all the time and in person I just wanted to get in touch and see how you’re doing.”
Farah said he was not yet married or had children, but had seen Sir Mo running around on TV and how he was an Arsenal football fan.
Sir Mo added: “I just want to tell you one thing, thank you very much, I use your name.
“I came here as a kid and I just want to say thank you, and it’s been tough, difficult.”
Mr. Farah said, “Okay, you’re still my brother.”
The Real Mo Farah will air at 6am on BBC iPlayer and at 9pm on BBC One on 13 July.