Sadiq Khan hails 'truly great Briton’ Mo Farah after he revealed how he was brought into UK illegally as a child

Sadiq Khan hails 'truly great Briton’ Mo Farah after he revealed how he was brought into UK illegally as a child
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 12/07/2022

- 09:54

Updated: 12/07/2022

- 13:36

Sadiq Khan thanked Sir Mo Farah for "sharing your story" and "shining a spotlight on these awful crimes"

Sadiq Khan has described Sir Mo Farah as “a truly great Briton” after the Olympic champion revealed he was brought illegally to the UK as a child.

Sir Mo revealed how he was brought into the UK illegally under the name of another child.


Speaking following the news, Mr Khan tweeted: “Everything Sir Mo has survived proves he’s not only one of our greatest Olympians but a truly great Briton.

“Mo Farah thank you for sharing your story, shining a spotlight on these awful crimes & showing why safe passage is so important for those in need.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, delivers a keynote speech on the vital need to rebuild public trust and confidence in policing in London, at City Hall. Picture date: Friday June 17, 2022.
Sadiq Khan
Dominic Lipinski

The four-time Olympic champion unveiled his true identity in a new documentary titled The Real Mo Farah.

In the documentary, Sir Mo says: "The truth is I’m not who you think I am”.

He adds that he needs to tell his real story “whatever the cost”.

The 39-year-old father-of-four, said: “Most people know me as Mo Farah, but it’s not my name or it’s not the reality.

“The real story is I was born in Somaliland, north of Somalia, as Hussein Abdi Kahin. Despite what I’ve said in the past, my parents never lived in the UK.

“When I was four my dad was killed in the civil war, you know as a family we were torn apart.

“I was separated from my mother, and I was brought into the UK illegally under the name of another child called Mohamed Farah.”

EMBARGOED TO 2200 MONDAY JULY 11 File photo dated 21/8/2016 of Great Britain's Mo Farah celebrates with his gold medals after winning the Men's 5000m and 10,000m at the Olympic Stadium on the fifteenth day of the Rio Olympic Games, Brazil. Sir Mo has revealed in a BBC documentary that he was brought into the UK illegally under the name of another child. Issue date: Monday July 11, 2022.
Sir Mo Farah
Martin Rickett

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