#ABtalks with Sir Mo Farah | Chapter 251 | مع السير محمد فارح

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:05]I struggled cuz even I didn't speak to my mom for 10 years. I haven't heard from her. Didn't speak to her and she didn't know whether I was alive or dead.

[00:00:13]>> Do you believe behind the smiling often is pain or sadness >> as a child all you wanted to do is what every child does, play. I had to do everything for them kids. Cook, clean, everything.

[00:00:28]>> It's a crazy story. anymore. It's a movie story.

[00:00:31]>> Mo, by you having this bad race does not make you a bad athlete. This is what you train for all your life.

[00:00:37]>> So you think your uncle had the transaction to send you?

[00:00:42]>> If this thing didn't happen to me, would I have that resilience? Would I have that fight in me?

[00:00:49]>> Okay, we just finished a long awaited um interview with my friend Mo and it's been I think years in the making. I've known you for so long.

[00:00:57]>> So long, bro. And uh, alhamdulillah, we finally made it happen. Uh, even when I did the research, I was so shocked that this human that I've known for so long has such a crazy story. Like, it's a movie story. So, I we had it today. I think you're going to enjoy it a lot, inshallah. And, uh, I enjoyed it. I don't know about you.

[00:01:18]>> No, I did that. It's a bit deep, but I really enjoyed it. And honestly, it's just been very straight uh, as well as been very truthful and just, you know, that's my story, bro. It's when you tell people and you know each other and you know >> a lot has changed since then because obviously I was still competing >> but now you retire and you're like wow sometimes you go >> what a story how did that happen because often you know as you said >> people see us on telly and they go oh yeah he's won medals lot medals but we we have a story >> absolutely so yeah um always support us we love your support we love your love we love your attention we appreciate your time watching these interviews the long ones.

[00:01:59]>> Yeah.

[00:01:59]>> Uh and if you know more, I hope you got to know more and you love him more.

[00:02:03]>> And if you don't know more, support him, find them, follow, uh share his story to people who might want to hear it and need it. And I hope you enjoy the interview.

[00:02:39]We're rolling.

[00:02:42]>> Okay, Mr. Mo, Sir Mo, uh, how are you really doing?

[00:02:48]>> I'm doing great, thank you. I'm enjoying myself. Yeah. M >> how are you doing? It's been a long time.

[00:02:55]>> Yeah. You know and the word really when we ask ourselves how are we really doing you are forced to take a moment. Mhm.

[00:03:05]>> If I say how are you?

[00:03:06]>> You say I'm fine, good. Alhamdulillah.

[00:03:08]>> Quick, >> I say how are you? Really?

[00:03:09]>> Yeah.

[00:03:10]>> You have to you have to force yourself.

[00:03:11]Even if you ask without somebody, you have to ask yourself like okay, how >> am I stressed? Am I tired? Am I >> So yeah, how are you really doing at this stage or this phase of your life?

[00:03:23]>> No, honestly said it's important we do ask that questions. I think many times for all of us, we say we're doing great, but we're not doing great. M >> so much going on in our life. It's still going on, but right now I'm really doing great. I'm enjoying myself. I'm happy.

[00:03:41]I'm around my kids. You know, something that throughout my career I missed being an athlete, you know, 6 months of the year I was up in the mountains training, not seeing them. But that's what it took. So I don't have any regrets.

[00:03:57]>> That's what I had to do. But now, how am I doing? What am I doing? And honestly, I'm enjoying I'm having probably one of the best lives that I've, you know, >> wanted to have so many years while while I was competing, you know, live somewhere quiet, enjoy time with your family, you know, now I'm here not too far away from you.

[00:04:17]>> So, >> in Doha, Qatar, and I'm really enjoying time, spending quality time with my loved ones, and that's what's most important in life, you know.

[00:04:30]Your original name I read is Hussein Kahin.

[00:04:34]>> Yeah. Hussein Abdi Kahin. So my birth name >> was given to me >> by my parents was Hussein. My father's name was Abdi. His father's name was Kahin.

[00:04:46]>> That's how I was born.

[00:04:48]>> Um yeah. And then why do we know you as Mo Far? That's a good question and honestly it's something that you know I've kept for many many years behind me um because I didn't want to really think about it um for what I've gone through in my early life um but it was hard it was hard for all of us. It was hard for myself. It was hard for my mother. It was hard for people who loved you um you know in a situation that it happened. It it was it was hard on both ends. So one end one side of it was the when the civil war kicked in between Somali land and Somalia. Um I lost my father early on when I was 4 years old. Um he got killed in in in the civil war and that meant all of us were you know displaced.

[00:05:41]Um there was eight of us including me.

[00:05:43]I've got twin brother. Not many people know that. uh who's identical and all of us were moving into different in in in in a care in somewhere you know relative to look after us cuz my mom at the time truly speaking couldn't cope the death of my father and it was so hard for her to identify firstly the body secondly to go through as a woman and seeing that in the rural area was tough and then my relative decided I should live with my dad's aunt and I lived in Djibouti which is the island of Somalia not too far and I spent like two or three years there and then you know living there and then I had my twin brother join me as well and still like my mom will come and see us now and then um but really I was just a kid happy kid running around that and then you know we had a some you know my relative my uncle at the time had a friend or someone who knew came around the house and and said to us, "Listen, my dad uh my dad uh my aunt's family lived in Holland >> and they said to us, listen, oh, we get phone call now and then and we get stuff sent." And they were like, "Oh, yeah. Do you want to go to do you want to go and have a better opportunity and go there and and have a better opportunity in life where you know was wasn't easy."

[00:07:07]And I said, "Yeah, I was excited. I just wanted to go." And at that point this lady comes over said to us and my uncle somehow did something. Uh till this day I don't know. And I tried to get you know I did the documentary on the BBC to try and find out get to the truth. At that point when I went >> I didn't realize the lady was just I thought she was just taking me to the family and then end up coming to the UK. Um I had all my details of my um my cousins and aunts and everyone and stuff and I thought once I arrived there the family will come and get you. I was I was nine at the time.

[00:07:46]>> Um had that and then I didn't realize you know the about week before 10 days before the lady was like your name is if somebody asks you your name is Muhammad Farah. And I was like well what's it going to be Muhammad? What's going on?

[00:08:00]And she said, "Listen, anybody asks you, this is your brother? This is your brother." And I came in with two other children at the time. And her and she said, "Your name is Muhammad Farah." And I was like, "Okay, okay, maybe it's just going in." So I just played along a bit when went there, got um came to London, arrived in London, and then the husband um was there. The husband was looking around and looking for his child. She basically took me under another child's name and that was the reason where then was my name Muhammad Farah.

[00:08:37]So he's looking around he's like where's my child and he's and I remember them just having chat and I wasn't sure and even till this that that till that moment I just had to play along with it and tell him look at him in the eye and go yeah I'm Muhammad Vara the guy was confused and I was like okay okay came through anyway had all the documents in my pocket piece of paper and then the lady said to me grabbed me and goes listen give me all the stuff took it off me she said do not talk do not say anything just that that's it and And then I end up living in the house and really like what I know now I was actually child trafficked into the UK given different name and then in the house where I was living with with the with the kids I had to do everything for them kids cook clean everything didn't go to school for close to a year home just taking care of it and then somehow you know I end up starting school late but know when I started school then the school couldn't See, I wasn't happy. Uh there was a lot of stuff going on. I was neglect, wasn't dressed properly, probably you know, wasn't hygienic, taken care of, a lot of stuff. And the school can see it. And after a while, I had the courage to build to talk to one of the teachers and say to them, listen, there's a lot of stuff going on. Um I'm not I can't join athletics club. I can't do any of the clubs. I can't do anything. and um and at home things are really tough. So I I talked to him and then at that point then they spoke to the social services the social services got involved and and then I was moving from that house and and they put in another house uh where this one of my friends at school his mom so she put me under her roof and really took care of me. Um, but early on in my life, I would say I struggled cuz even I didn't speak to my mom for 10 years. I haven't heard from her. Didn't speak to her. It took 10 years and she didn't know whether I was alive or dead. So yeah, it was pretty tough as a child.

[00:10:46]Still smiling though, you know.

[00:10:49]>> Yeah.

[00:10:51]Do you believe behind this smiling often is pain or sadness or and a coping mechanism is to smile?

[00:11:01]>> Yeah, honestly as I said is you build that courage and where you know at times you know as a child when I was young and and and in that hard times I would lock myself in the toilet and cry and see nobody comes and I've learned to not cry. So probably sometimes emotionally I'm like it's hard for me to be really emotional >> but at the same time it's just that resilient you built.

[00:11:28]Um and that smile I think for me is just like you know I've always smiled and it's a way of just letting it out. Mhm.

[00:11:37]>> Um but then you know the only thing that then helped me in my career was being able to you know enjoy running and perhaps sometimes even till this day it's the question I ask myself if this thing didn't happen to me.

[00:11:55]Would I have that resilience? Would I have that fight in me?

[00:12:01]Um and running was a way out of being free well as making it a career out of it and winning four Olympic medals going on to be united by her majesty the queen and and beyond and I I guess in my life that's only thing that I could control in a way like >> other things happen couldn't control >> so you No, >> it's a bit deep, but that's the reality.

[00:12:38]>> And how do what does the name Hassan Abdi mean to you today?

[00:12:45]>> Now, it means everything. That name means everything to me. That's the name was given to me by my father before he passed away like Rama and my mom and still she calls me Hussein and and till this day and that's the same reason why I named >> my son Hussein.

[00:13:02]>> Okay.

[00:13:03]>> So I name my my son obviously with me and my wife had discussion and my wife was like listen she knew the story and she's like why didn't you just why didn't you name him Hussein? So I came so close naming him. I was going to make him Hamza or Hussein. And I'm so glad I named him because you know for years you know I was never called that still now.

[00:13:26]>> Did you ever think of changing back to No.

[00:13:29]>> No.

[00:13:30]>> So you feel your personality is become the name of Mu and >> yeah originally is on my birth certificate said now it says Hussein Abdah Mu. It's the same.

[00:13:44]It doesn't mean anything. People know you as who you you >> but again it's a respect of you know for my mom particularly my father. You owe them now and you still you know carrying respect without going I want to change my names.

[00:14:01]>> Yeah.

[00:14:03]Um, if you had to summarize the childhood in three words, which three words you would choose?

[00:14:13]I was say I think sometimes when we say difficult, yeah, difficult, you get over it. Um, but some of the stuff that I say I was just say horrible. when you say someone's like it it yeah it was it was hard for me because I felt you know >> as a child all you wanted to do is what every child does play haven't and no child should ever you know gone through what I've gone through but again it's important then you know to identify these things and and seeing people how are they really doing >> are they okay what what are the signs now again now with you technology and and and particularly things that we can straight away see how the person is doing is important I think to ask that questions.

[00:15:04]>> How's it going? How are you doing? And give time to that person or just let them >> just feel them out.

[00:15:13]>> So horrible was one. What other two words come to mind?

[00:15:17]>> Horrible. Nasty. Um uh bad.

[00:15:28]>> What's the worst memory from your childhood?

[00:15:31]>> The worst memory for me was um just losing losing my father so young.

[00:15:38]Um and not just losing him but losing him and not have any memory of anything of him like in terms of I don't have a photo I don't have anything that I could go do I look like him do I not look like him do I and then often you know now when you ask my your relative my mom and stuff like that then they say oh you a similar personality, but I wish you know I just had an some kind of image of him.

[00:16:16]>> Yeah.

[00:16:18]>> Do you were four? Do you remember him?

[00:16:21]>> So you click pause. Why do you click pause? I hear this often that people that watch the show, they click pause when I ask a question because they ask it of themselves or their friends or their family and then they have a conversation. So me and the team, we worked for over two years to do over 70 questions here with a die and some QR codes where I pop up. But the point was to take the conversation outside the white studio. You know, we're blessed to have these conversations, but what if we want these conversations to go to different homes and different friend groups and colleague groups and really have intimate, deep, strong conversations that maybe you've never had before. So that's why we created this game and it's had very good feedback. People love it and I hope you love it too. Try it out and let us know.

[00:17:05]The website is there. The link is in the caption. Enjoy it and let us know.

[00:17:10]>> I I remember him because it was me and my twin brother. We we lived in the farm. We were happy we played, you know, that's how family come from the farm. Um and I remember him him like obviously like picking me up, playing with me. But if you were certain, do you remember image of him? Mhm.

[00:17:28]>> And when you left, you left to Djibouti.

[00:17:31]Um, and then from Djibouti, UK, right?

[00:17:34]>> Yeah.

[00:17:35]>> Hassan, your twin brother.

[00:17:36]>> Yeah, I left that.

[00:17:38]>> He you stayed?

[00:17:39]>> Yeah, I left him behind. Yeah, we left him behind. I remember that night and when I was leaving, he asked why can I not go with him? And I think now we have we have a conversation with each other. And sometimes when he tells me I can see in his eyes like he felt >> left behind >> and sometimes he's then the reason why they gave him they were like oh you're going to go you will join him next week month later a year later and it never happened and and for him was just you know he wanted to be because we were close we were identical we were identical did everything the same he was probably a little bit harder than me he bully me a little bit cuz I'm the youngest one but we were just that kids playing fighting and you know and sometimes I look back and go >> yeah I can see it when I have a conversation with him we still close even though we left million miles apart uh we're still close I speak still speak to him regular um but yeah >> that's so sad man >> no but it's sad but you know at the same time >> sad in that age you know like a child doesn't have logic All right.

[00:18:53]>> I think a child for me is he said, you know, you are parents. I'm a parent. All you ever want to do for your kids, do what's best for them.

[00:19:00]>> You never oppress them. You never go, you know, you you treat them to be kids.

[00:19:05]And you know, and for me, as I said, you wouldn't treat that how you would I was treated. I wouldn't treat that my worst enemy cuz worst enemy is your worst enemy.

[00:19:16]That if they're an adult, it's a different. But it's a child.

[00:19:21]It just says the thing the word comes to me is like horrible. I don't I I never knew what the word child trafficking meant till I actually decided to do that documentary and and I knew, you know, you put it in back of your head, back of your mind for 30 years and after a while it lives with you and you go you're just daydreaming because you see your kids and you're like the same age as you and you're like all this thoughts comes through you and then you know my wife could see that she's like listen have to let it out. you have to let it.

[00:19:54]And I was like, who cannot let it out?

[00:19:56]And I really wanted to just get to the bottom of it. What really happened? Why?

[00:20:02]Whose decision? Was it my mom's decision? Was it my uncle's decision?

[00:20:06]Whose decision was that? What was what was the thought behind it? Um, which answered quite a lot of questions I've had, particularly for my mom. I just wanted to know how was she doing? What what was behind it? What she know? Was she aware of she hear it? And she's like, and some of the questions I got back was like, I was worried about you.

[00:20:28]I didn't know you were dead. I thought you were dead. And I'm like, you don't want to hear that from your mother.

[00:20:34]>> Yeah.

[00:20:38]>> So, you think your uncle had a transaction to send you?

[00:20:43]>> I honestly don't want to like say this, this, that, but >> it seems >> I It seems like that's the logic, huh?

[00:20:50]>> Is he still alive?

[00:20:52]>> Yeah. Oh >> yeah.

[00:20:53]>> Do you talk or not?

[00:20:54]>> No.

[00:20:55]>> Yeah. That's a soft spot.

[00:20:57]>> No, but it's just like what was the reason and if that was the reason then why were then was I not looked for >> you know even that if that if or in that situation or you would go check out someone >> cuz you're only child you know if you had cousins or something like that your cousins in Europe you would go and see them. That's a logic thing. normal things, see how they're doing, what they're like.

[00:21:24]>> Unless you're ashamed of the act and you want to forget about it.

[00:21:28]>> Yeah.

[00:21:28]>> Then you'd never confront it. And that's how human beings deal with things, you know, like they act like it's >> under the rug, but it's there. It's the elephant in the room.

[00:21:37]>> Not their as adults, you someone else's responsibilities, you know.

[00:21:42]Did you when you heard this tough uh time in England in the beginning did you say like alhamdulillah Hassan didn't come? Yeah, I did what always, you know, I said, "Alhamdulillah, he has a love."

[00:21:57]I think every child just needed love and support >> and my mom might not be able to give him everything he needs and and you know, the fancy things and nice clothes and stuff like, but at least he had love and for me and said, "Alhamdulillah, I will switch that with anything." You know, at the time you go, >> I don't really need all this stuff. I don't need I just need my family, my sisters, my brothers, cousins. We might not >> have any food or whatever you having or struggling to, >> you know, put hot food on the table, but at least you have the love and support >> and like do you remember what you went through? I think you said you left around 9.

[00:22:41]>> So yeah, I left when I was nine >> to Europe.

[00:22:44]>> To Europe.

[00:22:45]>> London. in London and >> and then until 19 you didn't hear from your mom.

[00:22:49]>> Yeah, it was sorry it was I didn't see her for 10 years.

[00:22:53]>> Yeah.

[00:22:53]>> And first time I heard from her was 2003.

[00:22:58]>> Okay.

[00:22:58]>> So it would have been 93 94 96 97 98 99 2020 2003. So 9 years.

[00:23:07]>> So what happens in it in more the child's brain? Do you think like your family's dead or you're like, "Oh, I wish I was there." How do you cope? Like I'm sure it's so lonely and depressing for a child >> that at some point I like I'm I'm really curious. What happens in your brain to cope? Like do you say I don't have a family. I need to live a new life or you're always longing for them or you're hoping to find a way to get it. For me is one thing I always had faith believ in Allah and always you know let Allah knows what the answers that I wanted to do you know answers I wanted as a child I was like please Allah just one day take me to see like my mom and my brothers and s you always pray even though like back of you you might thinking oh my god are they dead are they alive I I I never knew and after a while you keep going you keep going and how it happened was there was a there was a lady who went to a trip and she went to Somali land >> and when she went to Somali land um she came back and she knew there was a boy and my mama said like I'm looking for this boy he lives in the UK if you ever heard from him he looked like this and she said that and what she did was she had the cassettes you know the old cassettes >> she recorded her voice her number and then she gave it to that lady and lady somehow found me and she said to me, "What's your name?" And I was like, "Muhammad." And she's like, "No, what's your name?" "Muhammad." She says, "It's not your name, Hussein." I was like, I froze. Nobody ever calls me that. And I was like, yeah. And then I looked at she goes, "Um, your mom?" I was like, "My mom?

[00:24:54]That's you alive?" And then at that point, I was like got really excited and she said to me, she gave me something to you to to give it to you and she gave it to me. And I remember couldn't wait to go home and then I went like running home go home and the relative I was living with was like my my friend's mom and I call her aunt as a respect told her and then and then she had a picture as well frame a picture frame with my brothers and her and my mom and I was like looking at that's my mom and then listen to the cassette and then I'm listening I'm listening and she's like oh yeah this is your mom this is so and so this your brother's alive. You every time I get excited, I'm getting excited.

[00:25:36]Everybody was alive. And I was alhamdulillah. And then I remember going, she wrote a number and back then when you call someone, we never had they never had telephone or nothing like that. You have to like call her office, make an appointment and tell them to wait for you. So I remember doing that.

[00:25:54]I called her on a Thursday and she was like, I'll tell her I'll call her on Thursday. I told my mom that. Um I was Thursday afternoon, whatever. And you know when you're in Europe it's like you give Pacific time and you go there and I remember him passing that message and then he said I pass your message your mom's going to come Thursday. She comes in first thing in the morning waiting outside the the office before open stays all day all day till the afternoon and then I call her and that was first time I've heard from her. I like wow. And I was like, "Tell me about it. Is this really?" And it's like, "Everyone's good."

[00:26:27]And then I think within 6 months or even maybe even shorter, got a flight went to go and see her. That was then at that point it was 10 years. And I remember just my brother coming up to me at the airport going he was crying his eyes out. I said, "Was that version?" And I think that's probably first time I ever see myself crying and going, I'm crying for happiness, you know. Yeah.

[00:27:00]Wow.

[00:27:05]>> 10 years.

[00:27:09]How did it feel when you reached the airport and you saw her?

[00:27:12]>> I was just so excited. And I couldn't wait get on a flight you know you get on a flight and I got a connecting flight from I think it was Djibouti at the time because you go London Djibouti Djibouti to then for when I got there land just you just looking around and I could just you know when you got out just felt love and I end I was supposed to end up staying only for four weeks I end up staying for two months the whole time and I was like and you know at the time I was running as well and you you know, I didn't even do a single run. I was just enjoying the moment. And then, you know, at that point after I had a little bit of money and stuff and then my brother, he got married. It was I was there for his wedding and it was just, you know, it was beautiful.

[00:28:03]>> And now he's got 10 kids.

[00:28:06]So, mom was a football.

[00:28:07]>> Somali love big families, man. That's for sure.

[00:28:11]>> Wow, man. So >> what did he end up doing?

[00:28:16]>> He he end up like he's engineer. He's like taking mechanic and take that and he worked you know he was bus driver but now he's like really mechanic and um but he loves even myself I wanted to be a mechanic when I was younger at school. I can't keep my hand still taking things apart.

[00:28:33]>> Um but yeah he's enjoying you know.

[00:28:35]>> Wow man >> he's happy that that's the key.

[00:28:41]But we we it's weird because even my coach at the time like recently like probably about four years ago um my coach first time he met Hassan he comes like in training camp because I was we were training Adis and he comes through and it's like my mom's there she was just doing like a little check up the hospital and stuff like and at the table my coach Gary was like he looked around and you know when I'm thinking I always do my hands like this my leg been moving I'm doing that and he's doing exactly the same And he looks across. He goes, "Mo." And then it's like, "Nah, it's Hassan. We have like even though we live totally different lives, same behavior."

[00:29:22]>> Crazy. Subhan Allah.

[00:29:24]>> Yeah. I'm like, man, it's mad.

[00:29:31]It's a crazy story. Mo, it's a movie story. Like you can make a movie, not only a documentary, actual movie.

[00:29:37]>> No, but honestly, this it's just my That's my life. You know, when you openly talk about and go, who am I? How are you doing? Who are you? What's going on? You know, often people see us, you know, me and you will go way back, but at the same time, you know, we do what we do. That's that's our job. But at the same time, people just saw me as an athlete.

[00:29:57]>> You have a story. You're a person. You know, every I believe every person has a story. Whether they the guy who's cleaning the toilet or the guy, you know, the pilot or the guy who's owns multi-billion.

[00:30:12]No, you know, we all humans. We all have stories and and again, it's just, you know, honestly, it's just my story and what I've gone through and I'm even now and stuff. What keeps you grounded, what keeps you going to know what you gone through.

[00:30:29]>> That's what keeps you humble. And >> how long did you stay with that first abusive family?

[00:30:36]>> Oh, man. I just I had to yeah honestly it's about >> it was yeah it was about year and a half maybe even I I don't know exact so I was came to 93 so we went through I didn't start secondary school to year seven so it would have been so my kids are third yeah so two years maybe >> and it was bad >> it was honestly as I said >> yeah it was hard for me it was very difficult Yeah, it was as said like no child should ever gone through that kind of stuff >> and you know at least even if they're going through stuff you can take physical abuse you know you can take not physical abuse you can take actual abuse hit you know what I mean but to take the physical side as well on on top of other things it's >> it was difficult very very difficult and again you know if if it wasn't for my PE teacher who you know I build the courage >> to be Mr. Alan >> Alan Watkins. Yeah.

[00:31:36]>> He's the guy who spotted me and pointed me at the right time.

[00:31:39]>> He's the one also who got you out of that.

[00:31:41]>> Yeah. So there the guy that I talked to him from school and said to him, listen, he was the only language I could speak was PE, physical education. It was nothing else. You know, I wasn't most smartest kid. I wasn't, you know, educated as, you know, going to math, English. I struggled all the subject.

[00:32:00]But when you when I was on the PE on the field, that was me. And I could just and you can see how happy I was and stuff.

[00:32:07]And then we build a relationship from being on a sport and you can see me and these the guys then you know believed in you encourage you to join a running club and and you know really >> Wow. But who is this family? Did they get punished or nobody cares like they just moved you? Are they cruel? Are they physically abusive? Are they sexually abusive? Are they emotionally abusive? I think emotionally and physically that was the hardest thing honestly. Um that was for me the hardest. Um it wasn't sexual but it was physical and mental.

[00:32:43]>> Did they beat you? I wouldn't say so much but again you did get occasionally and I was just you know terrified for yourself >> and again you know I believe you know Allah has his way and and what goes wrong in life comes back around and again you know um the position you are today alhamdulillah you say you know >> and you know you gone on and got all your life but you know this at the same time you see them where they are still Oh, and yeah.

[00:33:15]>> So, >> yeah, >> that's tough. And that you think that really helped you to be the opposite of that to your kids?

[00:33:25]>> 100%. And I said I've always wanted early on from what I've gone through of wanted kids. I wanted I want to be that father figure. I want to be there to support them mentally as well as physically and and >> give them the love >> that you missed.

[00:33:41]>> Yeah. You missed. Not that you can't give everything to a child. As I said, they're only a child. Their brain is not big enough. And as they get developed, they understand what's good and bad for them. But at the same time, you know, show love, show support, encourage them, tell them it's okay.

[00:33:56]>> Nobody tell me it's okay. You have to learn the hard way.

[00:34:01]>> You make a mistake, you learn from it.

[00:34:02]You go on quick.

[00:34:05]As a 9year-old, and if I compare my son now, he's 10 years old. at 10 years old now what I was doing at eight years old, nine years old.

[00:34:18]>> No comparison.

[00:34:19]>> No.

[00:34:20]>> So you were like a labor like you clean the house or >> I clean the house. I change diapers. I clean cook >> at 9.

[00:34:29]>> At 9.

[00:34:32]Look after the kids. Make sure you finish school early quick. Run home.

[00:34:37]pick them up from school cuz our school will finish 3:15 3:30 got 15 minutes to get back.

[00:34:47]>> So servant.

[00:34:48]>> Yeah.

[00:34:49]>> Yeah. Child labor all the way.

[00:34:50]>> Yeah.

[00:34:52]>> And it was all fear based like you were afraid as a kid.

[00:34:56]>> Yeah. that was fair you know if I ever wanted to see my family or something couldn't talk to anyone couldn't show and the only only reason then it came forward was the school identifying how neglect I was and to school to identify that >> has to be bad >> it has to be bad >> not just the physical like like you know physical hit it wasn't that it was to see a child cuz you know as the school teacher stuff that the signs often as a kid I've always said this a kid behavior it's always reverence to something it's never just a bad behavior doesn't just happen and go that kid decide to be naughty there's something >> behind it what is the behind >> man that's interesting and the second family was good >> all the ladies so good to me. Honestly, Kinsey, she we have no relationship.

[00:36:00]It's basically, you know, the the the guy came under visa. He's he's his sister.

[00:36:08]>> And she's like, "Listen, this is a child. He's same age as my son. If my son likes him, I'm welcome him to find somewhere someone can put up with him."

[00:36:18]Because in the social services, what happens is they ask you a question.

[00:36:22]They're like, "Do you know anyone?" I don't know anyone. If you know somebody then that person will put you up for time bin >> and then until they find you somewhere someone can put you up >> and I end up staying there.

[00:36:34]>> Interesting.

[00:36:34]>> For four years.

[00:36:35]>> And even after you found your mom you stayed in that family.

[00:36:38]>> No. And then I went to when I went to uni and then I moved out and obviously I just wanted to be independent and you know >> so then Mr. Allan identifies that you are a athlete.

[00:36:55]>> Athletes.

[00:36:56]>> Okay. So, how do you become a professional athlete?

[00:36:59]>> So, when I was an athlete at that point, I joined the running club because I was moving from that house and then joined the running club because before I couldn't join the running club. I had no no free time.

[00:37:09]>> And then I said to him, okay. And then he said to me and I said he could see I wanted to play football. And then he said to me, listen, okay, I know you love playing football as a child. You know, that's what we saw. Match of the day. We love football. that's our team >> and he could see I wasn't that good at football and then he said to me you know what okay come I'll take you to running club if nobody can take you took me one time and I was not sure if I want to go and then he said to me you know what you if you come to the sports hall there you can play half an half an hour play football kick around bring one of your friends if you want and I'll take both of you to the athletics club and then from there you can just get the bus home I thought yeah okay >> half an hour turn into 1 hour and And then I you know joined the club. Once I joined the club I represented for the club >> and then I I run for the county. So we have the county middle sex and then once you run for middle six then you go >> what's next? And then you compete against other counties and then you run for England >> and then once you run for England then you go England, Great Britain, uh sorry England, >> uh Scotland, Wales and Ireland. You get to compete. So, and then from that I won and then I was like, okay. And then the first time I'm I don't forget my first time representing Great Britain was world it was European under 16.

[00:38:30]>> So then that was my first time.

[00:38:32]>> Interesting. as a 16y old and then we go to Poland and then from there I think when I was just coming up to 17 they invited us to Dendan Florida where they had all the athletes where they thought had the potential to become a good decent athlete. So they were like, "Okay, he's good. He's good. We're picking this like maybe about 50 people they picked from javelin shop long distance." And I was the one of the long distance guys they pick and they took us to Florida for training camp >> for two weeks. And that two weeks was the best time of my life. And then after two weeks they were like one day you can go to Disneyland Orlando, Florida where you got all the rides and I was like wow. And at that point something kicked in in my head and go man if this is the reward on a long flight to America and this I want to become an athlete and I think at that point then that's when I applied more and you know training understanding in increasing my training >> and yeah just really then try and like live like a an athlete not like you you trying to mix football running.

[00:39:46]Yeah.

[00:39:48]>> At what age did you go to Orlando?

[00:39:51]>> Probably about 16 17.

[00:39:53]>> So that decision came at that age.

[00:39:57]>> So now you have four Olympic gold medals and many other titles.

[00:40:04]>> Do you think you had you needed pain and pain was necessary >> to reach what you did?

[00:40:11]>> Yeah, 100%.

[00:40:12]>> Really? Honestly, as I said, like even if we go back even in Beijing Olympics where you know I got selected to go to Beijing, I was talented. I was good enough >> telling everybody tune in, watch me. I'm running in the Olympics. My first Olympics um I supposed to make the final and do well in the final because I was good enough in in 2008. I didn't even make the final. I got knocked out in the heats >> and I'm like it's a long way to go to all the way to Beijing. I got knocked down. I was devastated. I was tired. I was just like, and sometimes you got to be honest with yourself. And sometimes you got to go, what could I done? Did I make a mistake?

[00:40:52]Was my training not right? Did I overcook it?

[00:40:56]>> Was I not up for it? And at that point, I think there's a lot of questions came to me. I was like, I was good enough because the Kenyan guy who came third was, you know, I was ahead of him in training and we were training together.

[00:41:08]>> And for me, I didn't even make the final. And I was like something had to change, you know. I was like, >> you know, I just felt like it was I was hungry for it, but I didn't really understand. It was more of like the pressure or the Olympics. You just felt like, you know, Olympics.

[00:41:26]So Olympics, you get over excited. And at that point, I remember going being devastated and coming back and I was like questioning myself without do I want to continue in my career? Have I got what it takes? And I was like listen and you know my wife at the time she was like you can do it and then then Allan again the people around me was like Mo by you having this bad race does not make you a bad athlete. This is what you train for all your life. this is part of it and you had to learn and then step by step then came to it 2009 went to the world champ finished seventh then 2010 won the Europeans like double 10 5,000 10,000 and then 2011 then at that point when it comes to European I was like okay great I'm the best in Europe can I be the best in the world and then that's when I did the world championship in 2011 came second and then came first in the 5000 and then from now it's That that was 2011 and that was the build to 2012 and and for me as a always my dream as a young boy um you know been at school and watching a lot of races was like I remember watching Sydney Olympics I think I was in six form where we call it the college >> and it was 10,000 m highly garbasi against Paul Turat in Sydney Olympics >> and I remember going wow they look great I want to become Olympic champion the whole stadium was like it was a time where cafe Freeman was running and you know to shout that all on Sue, Michael Johnson >> and I remember going I want to be I want to go to Olympics. I want to become Olympic champion. And it it was that you know and then you know to have the Olympics in London 2012 in adult step was incredible. Honestly that was the moment of highlight on my career because as a young boy to gone through and to do it in your hometown have the 75,000 people cheer for you a union jack. Oh, that was that was for me was incredible. And I think it's you could write a book, you could make a movie, you could not predict what that outcome >> that Super Saturday and and and to do it in particularly, you know, in in your hometown where you grew up has so much memories, good memories, bad memories with everything to deliver.

[00:43:53]>> It's written.

[00:43:54]>> Yeah.

[00:43:56]And um I just look now and then I look back and my kids now old enough to understand and stuff. My son the other day we running the treadmill and he's like I need motivation. I said okay watch this race. I put it on him and he's watching and he's he's motivating and he's running and I was just like and I look back and I go some of the the races that I had that particular in 2012. It's like wow how did I do it? You don't even because in when you're in that moment you in the moment you don't have time to think outside right if you think outside have too much time and that's then the race is done so you in that moment you just that tunnel vision and that's what it takes to be a champion you know I'm sure you spoke to a lot of people and when you have that mindset you can get through it and I said this is someone asked me the other time um it came up an interview. It's like to do what we do, do you have to be different or do you just have to be a freak?

[00:44:58]Cuz to normal people is not normal. To us is normal.

[00:45:05]And again, every religion, everyone who's accomplished so much has gone through some point in their life, something >> I believe that, you know, I'm a big admire of Terry and Re and his story.

[00:45:19]And when you see it, then >> you understand >> and and so many other >> um Yeah. Like I'm thinking a all the athletes that are with you have a similar goal and they want to be world champions and they want gold medals but what do you think can or maybe you don't have the answer but I'm just going to ask it like what do you think sets that 1% difference >> you know like making getting one gold medal or two in one Olympics I'll be like >> even 1% it's half% like what's the difference between you and the top guys that were running next to you. Some of them probably are very top.

[00:46:01]>> Yeah. Yeah. Top top guys. Like in the world championship where I've gone 5,000 m is 12 laps. 12 and a half laps around the track. Yeah. I've lost the medal less than a half a second.

[00:46:19]Yeah. And I Yeah. And I finished seventh. I finished ninth.

[00:46:26]Right. So who remembers the guy in seventh or ninth or fourth?

[00:46:32]>> It's that but then again it's that belief it's that confidence you know you build >> and to me you know when you think about a race or tactics or or special series you watch you know someone right at that moment when they when they're going to do how they going to do it that's them. And for for me you had to learn something that you know you can beat everybody else a tool. M >> and I was saying it was my kick, but how did that kick come from? Where did it come from? And it's about you being able to understand your opposition then better than they understand theirself.

[00:47:07]>> That's what it takes. Like for me, I studied each athlete >> really.

[00:47:13]>> I watched back their race. I looked at what they did. I looked at how many races they have the year. I looked at how they're looking. And then same again, they were looking at me. Oh, Mo's going to do this race. is going to come and and that's what you got to do and it's that confidence and and the more you understand about your opposition is the more you can prepare, right?

[00:47:35]>> And for me the craziest things was just putting your body through so much to run 120 miles a week and week out, not one week, not two weeks, eight weeks, you continue and you take a rest and then you go again. To me, the racing part was the bit I enjoyed most. Wow.

[00:47:56]because you're not going into fatigue, but you just if you can deal with the race and know your opposition and position yourself right, run the shortest lines possible.

[00:48:08]>> I'll switch to another topic.

[00:48:10]What does love mean to you?

[00:48:14]>> Love means just happy. Love is, you know, the love that I have for my kids and the love they have for me and my wife and and my kids.

[00:48:26]>> It's so beautiful because we can just be us. Does that make sense for me? That's what it means. It's not because you're four time Olympic champion, you're celeb. It's not. It's the love that true love >> of accepting you >> as who you are >> and comes with your crap or your my mess I say often I'm such a messy guy by the way.

[00:48:54]>> Okay. Really?

[00:48:55]>> Yeah. But that's just me.

[00:48:58]>> Okay. That's nice. And uh how long you've been married now?

[00:49:03]>> Got married in 2010. So that 17 >> 26 now.

[00:49:08]>> 10 2010. Yeah. 26. Is that is that 17 16 >> 20 26 year 16 >> 16 years >> 16 years >> 16 years but I know my wife we went to same school >> who my wife we went to same school >> okay >> yeah we went same school so I know since she was she was in the same athletics club as well so we >> go way back and um yeah and I think truly like honestly without the support that I had from her uh for the support the kids because often I goes away 6 months a year.

[00:49:41]>> M >> That ain't easy.

[00:49:43]>> No.

[00:49:44]>> And you're missing birthday parties.

[00:49:45]You're missing exams. You're missing when they're sick. And to to have a woman to hold the family together, it's amazing. Honestly, I took that for granted. Now I look back and she goes, "Here, I'm gone. This is this not easy."

[00:50:01]>> No, >> it's not easy.

[00:50:03]>> Not at all.

[00:50:03]>> No, but listen, that's motherh. I think sometimes we take it for granted for particularly women for the role they do >> for the kids and and the support and what they hold together.

[00:50:16]>> And what do you think in your 16 years of experience has you think this cuz you know a lot of people are married, some struggling, some doing well, some miserable. In your experience, what do you think kept a family together and what dictates a good healthy marriage? What's so important?

[00:50:37]>> I think the most important thing for me is being honest. Be truthful. Of course, we make mistakes. You telling me like I don't make any mistake or I mess up.

[00:50:46]Yeah, of course you do. But I think as long as you're truthful and be truthful to each other, I think that's what holds. And and and for me is just being honest. Same thing with my kids. the value for me if my kids gone and do something stupid and if I find out from someone else I'm I'm so mad about it by finding out from someone else but if they would have told me >> and said to me dad we messed up this is what it is >> I'm probably I'm fine I just say look okay you know that's thing and for me that that honesty is so important and and often I think for all of us >> with what's going on around the world uh there's so much more stressed than ever with everything going on, social media, other stuff and there's a lot going on uh which is makes it more challenging but as long you have your faith you believe in one another um that's what I think holds it and for us I think being both being Muslim as well knowing the foundation >> it's so important >> did fatherhood change you >> did it taught me to be grounded Okay.

[00:51:55]>> To be not as crazy as I was >> in my younger days. Um, but also it gives you something, you know, it's like, as you say, it's more of a jewel.

[00:52:05]You see more of, you know, what's happening in life, what's going on, and you always think, you don't you don't think about just yourself. You think about your kids and your family >> where before you go, yeah, I'm going out with the boys. was you don't think now you're like I didn't do anything other than you know now and then I might have one or two friends play a bit football paddle do stuff family >> and then work >> I'll ask you some more can I get the red card with some quotes I got some from the research and the and the card yeah thanks Okay, Mr. Mo, you said what really saved me, what made me different was that I could run.

[00:52:57]>> Yeah.

[00:52:58]>> Were you afraid that if you fail at running, you would be lost again like the boy before racing?

[00:53:06]>> Yeah. Honestly without without running I would definitely been lost because if you ask me say okay Mo what's what's on your CV you got on job interview what's on your CV what have you studied what I was struggle you know I wasn't afraid to get a job I worked at McDonald's I wasn't afraid to get a job earn money but in the real world it would have been very difficult for me and all I ever know is running >> and running for me was way of being free and that's what I enjoyed and um yeah I didn't know at the time where you know if you do so well you can earn a decent living >> okay your training was crazy you'd run twice a day around 18 miles a day and 120 miles roughly weekly Is that what it takes?

[00:54:09]>> That's what it took. If you want to be the best, you see opposition running so many miles. To me, that was the limit to my body. Um, to run that many miles, it's almost like that was the foundation to run that miles and then you would do three or four sessions top of that. So you do a long run 20 plus miles do like a tempo where you know yeah they get the heart rate for example you get it like not red zone so just just below that. So when >> they call it threshold is when your body start producing lactic acid. So when you start producing lactic acid for normal person they can probably do 20 seconds >> right and then you feel like >> all your part imagine then that you get in 20 seconds 30 second 40 second you can build up to >> 40 45 minutes and that's what I do and and that's called the threshold of >> and it's >> plus you know the hills but I enjoyed it. I look back now and go, do I did I enjoy it? Of course, I enjoyed it.

[00:55:14]Otherwise, I wouldn't be so successful, right?

[00:55:17]>> I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the pain. I enjoyed that growth. I enjoy the bit that you moments you like, God, I've got eight weeks to go. I need to be in this kind of shape. I need to be this right.

[00:55:36]When you're running alone for hours, what does the voice in your head tell you?

[00:55:41]>> You get a lot of different voices when you're running. You get a voice telling you, "You're too tired. Stop." Or you get the voice you're like, "Yeah, Olympics coming up."

[00:55:54]It's it's all it's all different. And honestly, the hardest voice you get is like when you're so fatigued and you going out for a run, you're like, "Oh, not today.

[00:56:05]>> How am I going to manage 12 miles when I'm only on the first mile and then I will go six mile out and six mile comeback >> just to get through or even sometimes I will have music before where you just put it on without thinking about it, but start the watch and just run." On there's days that you start the watch >> and you're not looking at the watch >> till you get further enough f lot lot further then you have a quick glance and then back in.

[00:56:41]>> Would you trade your success for a peaceful childhood?

[00:56:49]>> I would. I think >> not all of it, but I would for bit because for me, yeah, it was great and I'm I'm I'm so grateful that I've won and done everything.

[00:57:04]But you just go back in time and if you could go back and share love with your mom, your brother, you know, there's nothing good by that.

[00:57:20]Yeah.

[00:57:25]>> Um, what is a fear or insecurity that you've struggled with throughout your life?

[00:57:31]The insecurity I struggle with for me was just like always thinking or you just like you're almost like what's the correct word? You're almost like going you don't want to tell you're wrong.

[00:57:56]You're always just like I can't be you.

[00:57:59]you know, it's okay.

[00:58:01]>> It's okay.

[00:58:05]>> I've never had that someone to tell me it's okay, but it's never okay. I'm like, >> and I think that's one thing probably I struggle with like affection because you never had that affection.

[00:58:25]And you don't have to be so hard.

[00:58:28]>> Are you affectionate to the kids?

[00:58:31]>> It's hard.

[00:58:32]>> I am. It's hard, >> but I am >> at my best. But could I probably do more? Yes.

[00:58:42]>> How do you receive love? Like if if somebody hugs you or shows you love, is it awkward >> or is it I think it's used to it or >> No, I think it's it's I'm I'm if someone give me hugs I'm probably at but for me to give >> that's probably I think that's when I then you do notice more >> like like the other day like my daughter was like actually when I was coming out to airport I should have probably gone like I've gone but she knows me that well she comes and give me hug and I was just like and then you think for a moment when you're like should I been the one say guys I'm going to go and nurse you later >> you know >> 2026 task list you should give random hugs to your kids >> 2026 >> just randomly >> like they're watching something just go from behind and like >> that's your homework okay out of this >> okay >> random >> yeah and like your training No, repetition makes things natural.

[00:59:57]>> Natural.

[00:59:57]>> The maybe the first 20, 50 hugs are going to be awkward. So what >> you know how much might mean to them to get a random >> hug >> hug from a guy who usually they have to hug.

[01:00:09]>> Yeah.

[01:00:10]>> You know it's cool. It's like somebody who always tells you I love you. I love you.

[01:00:15]>> For the first time if they tell you you're like oh that's different. You know it's cool.

[01:00:19]>> Yeah.

[01:00:20]>> So yeah that's your homework.

[01:00:21]>> Okay. ask >> um what's the most painful thing someone has told you?

[01:00:30]Um most painful >> like it's stuck you it hurt and you can't forget it probably as I said like probably like when I was younger um just being able to like when I was first told like my father and explain how it happened. That was probably the hardest thing >> just the death of my father and how death happened.

[01:01:09]>> I probably don't forget that because I'm know where I was and then just know I was probably too young um just saying can I see it? No.

[01:01:25]probably probably that's one of the hardest things stays on one side of it and then the other side probably just a lady you know when I was you know taking care of them children just how I was treated and you were never good enough >> it wasn't good enough to be with her cuz just that >> telling you M >> yeah that's probably the two things that >> it's crazy how words stay no >> yeah that that >> for a child >> for a child >> there was a you feel racism in the house or she doesn't wasn't a color thing >> no it wasn't color thing we were same color with same with same language with same thing it was just I just I I look back now and go I don't know not to say this this that but I just look back and go >> what makes that person like that?

[01:02:38]>> Why >> that's a miserable person?

[01:02:41]>> Yeah.

[01:02:42]>> You know like my mother said something many years ago.

[01:02:46]She said you know when people talk [ __ ] on online and they curse at you or whatever >> because we say keep it warriors.

[01:02:53]>> Yeah. She's like, "Imagine how it feels like to be in their head." Like how miserable sounds to be.

[01:03:01]>> Like imagine now you're with with your brain and your mind and you're mostly I would say optimistic. Imagine you went today after this and we went and we started making fun of people online and cursed them and made them feel like [ __ ] >> Like >> you must be >> it has to come out of a very dirty place >> because inside >> it's a sewer. like it's dirty and you're just you're like spitting at everyone like you need to be really upset and really angry with the world and hateful >> to do [ __ ] like that and more so >> on a child. Exactly.

[01:03:35]>> Like if it's an adult versus adult, I kind of would understand more >> there's jealousy or animosity and the adult can fight back and they can yell back and they can say, you know, I'm not going to stay here.

[01:03:46]>> But a child is helpless.

[01:03:48]>> Yeah. like you're a proper bully to >> No, but honestly as I said like you know when your parents when you go and stuff a child falls down a child or 16 17 a kid that like you think is a kid you know >> something happened you be like what's going on you know when you never go and then yeah to me it's just >> it's weird because even like when I went to just going a slightly change subject when I went to um That's how naive I was when I went to Somalia when seeing my mom stuff like we had at the time because I took some shoots and stuff like we have somebody burgled us.

[01:04:28]Yeah. And I was like we got burgled. How is she not Muslim?

[01:04:33]Is she Somali? I'm like I couldn't put my get my head around it.

[01:04:39]Same person like same >> nationality >> nationality same religion. It's doing that. M >> so to me it's like when I see people as well as you know we said just good people and bad people but I just don't like to think about bad people >> cuz why stay out of my lane I'm going we've got something good let's go be positive even >> what's something you've been through that you wouldn't wish on anyone >> um probably lonely Like if you got I don't want to wish on anyone not to have somebody to talk to when you're feeling down when you feel like you know as a child when I was younger it's okay to be feeling like this but I think most importantly if we can have a conversation with someone it's better to out then keep inside.

[01:05:35]>> Mhm.

[01:05:36]>> Huge relief.

[01:05:37]>> Just let it out. And it's okay to be angry. It's okay to scream. It's okay to cry, but it's important to think fast as human being. Just let it out.

[01:05:53]>> Relatability is a crazy medicine. Like somebody to relate to you and listen to you.

[01:05:59]>> Yeah.

[01:05:59]>> Like the other day I was doing um a meeting and the lady said, "What did AB talks teach you?"

[01:06:07]>> ABC.

[01:06:07]>> Yeah. The show. What did it teach you?

[01:06:09]So I had to think and I said one of the things that I said I said that every human >> it's different >> needs an ear.

[01:06:18]>> Yeah.

[01:06:18]>> To listen.

[01:06:20]>> Any human anywhere in the world >> Yeah.

[01:06:22]>> wants to be heard.

[01:06:24]>> Yeah.

[01:06:25]>> Every story like if it keeps inside it's lonely.

[01:06:28]>> But to share it with somebody who actually cares >> cares and not to make fun of you but to cares and to actually just hear you >> is huge. Imagine like you're upset you're like an I need to call you. Yeah.

[01:06:38]call me more. This happened at work and this after it you're at least 20% better at least.

[01:06:45]>> At least it's a relief.

[01:06:47]>> You need this. And I'm like, habibi, you're okay. Don't worry.

[01:06:51]>> Go for a walk. Calm down.

[01:06:53]>> You know, call the kids. Okay. Okay. And that's fine. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I'll go.

[01:06:57]I'll take a shower and go for a walk.

[01:06:59]>> Yeah.

[01:06:59]>> I just to brother.

[01:07:02]>> No, but it's so important to have that somebody.

[01:07:05]>> Yeah. But also like for when somebody's like as someone often it's like what what's going on?

[01:07:12]How's it going? You know what I mean?

[01:07:13]You're not it's almost figuring out but when you keep the good people around you keep them >> 100%.

[01:07:21]>> Yeah.

[01:07:22]>> Um if you had the chance to relive one day of your life which day would it be?

[01:07:29]It has to be that moment of my wife, I think, just giving birth to my beautiful kids after 2012. You've won the Olympics and then two weeks later, your wife's delivering twin.

[01:07:45]>> Oh, wow.

[01:07:46]>> Yeah, that was a >> that's a double double.

[01:07:48]>> Double double. So, I'm like, "Wow, >> nice."

[01:07:51]>> Yeah.

[01:07:52]>> Okay.

[01:07:52]>> That that summer was, you know, it was incredible, honestly. Um and >> nice. Okay. If you could teach every child in the world one lesson, what would you teach them?

[01:08:07]>> If I can teach them one lesson, I'd just be just respect.

[01:08:12]>> Respect >> for me is it goes a long way. If you have no respect for someone, no matter who you are, you're not going anywhere. And for me, I've always had that. And um I thank my family, my mom, I met people with my father early on taught me as the foundation of things. Doesn't cost anything to say thank you and please no for many kids >> out there just no I'm so and so even the clean you know what someone's cleaning someone's doing if you don't have no respect and how >> it's a good >> and I think for me seeing kids particularly it's hard because it's like kids like you know >> if they don't you mean if they lack respect. Yeah.

[01:09:05]>> Yeah.

[01:09:07]>> That's so true.

[01:09:09]Okay, we'll do one of the card game. A random one.

[01:09:15]>> Mix it for me.

[01:09:22]Professional.

[01:09:26]Okay. This I'll ask you and then before you answer, this is how you answer.

[01:09:32]>> Okay.

[01:09:33]How have your values changed from 10 years ago? Thmah >> be open.

[01:09:41]>> Be open.

[01:09:42]>> How have you No, it's for you.

[01:09:44]>> Okay.

[01:09:44]>> How have your values changed from 10 years ago mo from that mo to this mo?

[01:09:51]>> How have you changed?

[01:09:52]>> Not honestly. Value wise?

[01:09:53]>> No, honestly I've I've my values always it's it changed me but it also question me is what I believe and what I stand for to be you know to be to to take care of things that you believe like for example like you said >> what 10 years ago to now it's like most beautious things I ever ever wanted to dream of and doing that was being able to you know go to Hajj with my wife And for me it's something that I always wanted to give more time for what I believe >> and now it's the time for retired and and to me taking care of what I stand for more and more. That's probably how I change where before you go not caring what someone else think. You might think that and you just go yeah I'm playing along with it. where now you're like I really truly believe that and I am going to do something >> and I will do something whether it's my religion whether it's like things that I'm supporting whether things that I'm encouraging take control of it >> I'll probably say where I'm very open where you know if you would have asked me 10 years ago or 5 years ago you wouldn't get this conversation >> I love that that's us also reaching peace within who we are to be okay with who you are with Hassini with Mu.

[01:11:26]>> Yeah.

[01:11:26]>> What happened to that actual kid whose name is Mo?

[01:11:29]>> It's a good question. So I when I was doing the recording for me I was so conscious of what happened really that kid what really happened >> and the kids was you know he was supposed to come as well. the lady told him he's going to come and and just playing along with him and and he he was going to come but then he ended up not coming so I took that place so he then came to Djibouti he was he happened to be the time I was leaving he was in Djibouti as well by the way >> cuz his the father told him to go there and stuff because that was his step his stepson >> the time and he end up going to Djibouti He spend a little bit time there and then going to Kenya and stuff and just you know then he lost his auntie or something. He also went through I don't wish on him. He went also went through hard times and often >> I blame myself and I'm like was it my fault?

[01:12:31]What could I have done? And over time you think and think >> there's nothing I could have done because it was never about my final decision. It was someone else's decision. And same again.

[01:12:41]>> Yeah. And same again for him. He suffered as well >> where even you know when I was making the dukari I spoke to him and he he he wasn't so bitter but at the same time you can see he struggled.

[01:12:55]>> Mhm.

[01:12:58]>> Because sometimes you be watching you and going okay that's my name that's a child. Subhan Allah. Because you would have thought that child on just that piece of paper will go on and do >> something, you know, incredible.

[01:13:21]>> Maybe not.

[01:13:22]>> Yeah.

[01:13:22]>> You never know. Like if he went to the UK instead of you, maybe it would be worse also. You never like you actually don't know.

[01:13:28]>> No.

[01:13:29]>> So many things have to come together.

[01:13:31]>> Yeah. Like if we took a thousand you >> and put them with the same through process.

[01:13:39]>> Yeah.

[01:13:39]>> Probably one out of a thousand is a guy with gold medals.

[01:13:42]>> Yeah.

[01:13:43]>> So many things have to fall. You had a Mr. Allen at a certain school.

[01:13:47]>> This is how I see my life. Honestly, it's a sliding doors.

[01:13:51]>> Crazy. So many things have to come together to produce.

[01:13:55]>> So young to produce to come out and I'm like subhan Allah. I say alhamdulillah all the time. You know I'm so grateful and sometimes you say listen if I didn't have iman I didn't have faith >> and how much faith some people have faith like this some people like this >> important always have faith you know Allah says it's only test you know test us in many ways but it's how we do what we do >> how does a 10year-old and a 9year-old have faith for from 9 10 11 12 13 14 like you don't give give up like on hope.

[01:14:31]>> I never gave up.

[01:14:32]>> Like you're what you're praying in the bathroom. You were saying please on the where like what are you?

[01:14:36]>> I've I've always like prayed and I've always like not made it day to day every day as a as a young boy.

[01:14:42]>> But often I was knew what knew what was the basic things that you know >> if Allah meant it will come one day.

[01:14:52]Sometimes maybe you question you're angry at yourself, you're angry at the situation, you you're crying, doing stuff but after time and time and then say what will be will be. And then the hardest thing was that even that lady to tell the man she told all my family will vanish. They got all killed as well. So even for him to hear that and go okay leave this child then. Imagine how that person And then later on find out, oh no, they is still alive and >> crazy and cruel.

[01:15:29]>> Yeah.

[01:15:31]>> What are you afraid of?

[01:15:33]>> Me? Yeah. Well, just in general, >> snakes >> and in life.

[01:15:39]>> No, honestly, not afraid anything apart from, you know, >> afraid of death. Are you afraid of sickness, losing someone?

[01:15:47]You always like you know in life we say you know I always you know pray you know when you do go >> you don't your kids don't go before you.

[01:16:01]>> Yeah.

[01:16:02]>> Yeah.

[01:16:02]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:16:03]>> Yeah. We don't know. That that's the thing that for me often but as I said you know >> yeah I'm not afraid or anything other than you know I want to do what I what we're supposed to be here to do >> you know live by sample be able to give changes talk you know be be that good human being >> what was the biggest decision you made in your life >> the biggest decision I made my life um in my career or just general >> anything. You think like that's such a big decision that you had to make and it maybe changed everything in your life. I think the biggest decision I made was being able to go >> married.

[01:16:51]>> Getting married for me was like it's big decision because you know >> I actually think it might be the biggest decision in most people's lives >> but >> it might be the biggest one a lot of people don't talk about. So when you married you married that person the good the bad whatever comes you married you taking that responsibility and to take that responsibility it's like I never forget when the imam said okay this what we do we do death whatever comes with illness you take this >> and you're like for a minute you're like >> big >> it was big >> of course of course >> and also for view in Islam what your responsibility is.

[01:17:38]>> That's huge.

[01:17:39]>> Yeah.

[01:17:39]>> Like I I tell people I telling the young guys and I'm like it's a big big you have to marry a woman not only for her looks and what her personality is also what her family is >> cuz your kids are going to grow up around them too.

[01:17:52]>> Yeah.

[01:17:53]>> And if her family is good, it makes a huge difference. And if her family are trash, good luck.

[01:17:57]>> Yeah. Like there's so and if you God uh God chose that you divorce you hope that they were classy enough to divorce in peace and nice not like >> and live >> you know trash and I've seen so many bad I'm divorced but I'm so blessed >> with my ex and my ex family wow wow wow class >> alhamdulillah so that was a very good decision you know we're still good parents mashallah >> no but that's most important you know sometimes >> that's so big man because I always tell also Guys, if you when you get married or you fall in love, it's like you give your heart to a woman, either she'll take you to heaven or hell.

[01:18:35]>> Yeah.

[01:18:36]>> And if you have a bad marriage, it will affect your career, to affect your sports, it affects your peace of mind, like everything.

[01:18:43]>> No.

[01:18:43]>> And the opposite is true.

[01:18:45]>> And I think sometimes they said, listen, >> it's not always easy cuz you are taking as someone else. It's not it's not about you. you used to mean you're sitting here and taking someone else and you have to move across and sometimes maybe you got too much too much here too and that's part of marriage you know 16 years of you know you learn along >> yeah but most importantly you know you trust each other and you love each other for >> who you are >> what does Somalia mean to you today >> it means a lot because that's where my families you know in Somali land that's where they are and often even when I open first charity I ever had was you know Mo Faration we we build quite a lot of wells and giving back to the community giving back to the younger kids educating them we did quite a lot of work even now save the children I still do quite a lot of work >> nice >> um it just it's where they're where you from where you born >> but at the same time I I know life is it's not always easy so often I always want to try and help and see what you can do for the particularly kids Because kids touch me.

[01:19:54]>> I'm sure.

[01:19:55]>> Yeah.

[01:19:56]>> And England, what does it mean to you?

[01:19:58]>> No, England means everything honestly is a is a country that give you opportunity, give you a chance to and and for me, you know, I made most of it, you know, when you get given that opportunity. Not always that opportunity always comes around and you got to take it in both hands and and go on and respect and say I'm I'm proud to be able to you know represent your country and to hold Union Jack and >> in that 2012 I think that's that when you say England it was just think 2012 cuz 2012 it wasn't just about myself it was everyone the whole nation came together >> of course >> it didn't matter where you from >> and it represented so many >> Scotland Wales islands and I believe sports brings everyone together.

[01:20:43]>> Um, if you could call young Little Mo or Hass, >> whichever name >> connects, what in that lonely phase, what do you feel you could have told them on this call? Honestly, I would have wish just told somebody or perhaps first getting that as a younger self is going it's okay. It's okay to be upset. It's okay to be angry and you know you don't know whether it was okay or bad or you just felt like just it's okay. It's going to be or everything is going to be okay. I probably said it's going to be okay.

[01:21:29]>> Everything's going to be okay. You're good.

[01:21:32]or just >> little tap say it's okay everything's going to be okay which alhamdulillah you know >> and you think that's all he needed >> I think that's all one and just love >> just to hear everyone's okay it's okay it's okay >> so simple huh >> but so valuable >> yeah it's like now your kids make mistakes would you tell what are you doing in your life >> or do you go it's okay mom should be like it's okay >> you know >> that's often we as a parents I know I use it >> we use or you could hurt yourself and just going down cleaning up and you fall on his bike or it's okay strong you're good you're good you're good you know just >> just the Um, if I'm your dad, but if your dad you can bring him back to live one of your moments, which moment would you bring him to experience with you?

[01:22:43]>> Honestly, I was just cuz I know some of the stories that I hear. My dad was very active bit like had personality where he's just messing around. He he had he had that character and I wish just to him see you do a race or win or or just or to see the birth of your kids or just or my kids to just to see him to me that would be the proudest you know I pray for him all the time you know but at the same time yeah I just try not think so eat. But you do have to think sometimes.

[01:23:27]>> I even actually it's weird picture of my uncle and um my dad's brother, uncle, he passed away as well, had a picture of him and I had a picture of my son when he was young and I put them together like that. I was like what they look like and and yeah and then just like you know just an image or >> just a present or just some kind of something.

[01:23:55]>> Did you ever dream of her?

[01:23:58]>> No, I never had a dream um where you know my mom I speak to all the time. I speak to a lot. She has lots of now and then and she was seeing and she had lots of dreams but I I I never did.

[01:24:13]>> Interesting, huh?

[01:24:14]>> Yeah.

[01:24:14]>> I hope he visits you in a dream.

[01:24:17]>> That'd be nice.

[01:24:18]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:24:21]>> How does it feel like when is there a gap in your heart when you win so many things and you have so many beautiful moments in your life but you lose a parent so early?

[01:24:33]that you don't get to share it with them. Does it >> remove from the pleasure of these moments like you're like I wish he saw how good his son did. I wish he saw this. I wish he saw this. I think there's a moments that where you often even my mom I think she never watched all my races and often she she didn't really get understanding what I was doing till later on in my career where she watched and she like oh why is you hurting yourself and that that's just mother >> but for me it was just yeah you know when you do your when you make your country proud and the whole nation's watching you then next step then to do I've made my country proud. I wish >> then you know if you your father or your mother's there well your mother sees it anyway it will be even more proud of you.

[01:25:29]>> Well the truth is more you don't even know if he actually could see it.

[01:25:35]>> We have no proof you know where the spirit goes.

[01:25:38]>> Yeah.

[01:25:40]Oh just keep praying. Don't you never know. Yeah. No, >> it's a much mysterious world the hereafter. No.

[01:25:47]>> Yeah.

[01:25:47]>> So the physical is gone the father's physical body >> for all of us you know >> but you don't know where the spirit can they see you know can they see can they hear >> I heard sometimes like you know when they say dreams if someone dreams of someone that's in spirit is coming >> it's a reality that's what I've just >> well I hope in 2026 your dad Mr. Rai joins you and he he comes in your dream.

[01:26:12]>> Um what what do you hope that your kids remember of you after you're gone? Like how do you would you like them to remember you?

[01:26:26]>> No, honestly I would want my kids to remember me as you know someone that always tried their best, wasn't afraid.

[01:26:35]Um and and whatever you put in you can achieve >> you know whatever you've gone through where you know times where we're always questioning okay can I do it can I not do it and I think often if you've put in your work if you believe in yourself when no one else believes in you you still can do it and I guess for entire world you know someone who has always tried their best I was never afraid to not make mistakes >> but mistakes that I could quickly learn.

[01:27:06]>> Nice.

[01:27:07]>> You're not having you're not going to have a lot of time.

[01:27:11]And I think that came in early on in in my younger days where God you messed up.

[01:27:16]You messed up because then you move from quick learn.

[01:27:23]If you're blessed with a a good death, inshallah, >> and um on your last day, you are surrounded with the kids, with your wife, with your mom or whoever, whoever is really dear to you, and they're all there and you can tell them something before you pass. What do you feel your loved ones need to hear from more?

[01:27:51]Just tell him, you know, tell him you love him and always have faith, >> you know, don't ever forget, you know, for Allah, you know, who created us for us in to me, it's one thing that I always wanted to keep my kids, you know, >> cuz I think at times many of us get over track or you know but most importantly you know if we don't not doing from what we here in this dunya it's hard and just live your life as is your last and and I think for me since retiring soon doing that just be grateful move on do what you need to do and be happy >> as well as you know do you do do what you need to do or do you you know it's like recently you know staying on top of masah and just staying more new deans is so important because you know yeah this is all great but again how long for do we know do we know >> um last one mo or in one word Yeah.

[01:29:20]Um, in one word that meaning my name or just me?

[01:29:26]>> You.

[01:29:27]>> That's why I joined the names.

[01:29:28]>> Hussein Mo.

[01:29:31]>> Mo and Hussein. I want this person described in one word.

[01:29:40]>> Faith.

[01:29:41]>> Faith.

[01:29:43]Yeah, I like that. Maybe that's your movie.

[01:29:46]>> Faith. Thank you, man. Shukran.

[01:29:50]>> Appreciate it.

[01:29:51]>> Thank you, Shukran.

[01:29:53]>> It was good. Too deep.

[01:29:55]>> No, it's deep.

[01:29:57]>> Not too deep on a talk.

[01:29:59]>> There's not too deep on a talk. It's so beautiful to hear such a good story, man.

[01:30:16]Heat. Heat.

[01:30:38]Heat. Heat. N.

[01:30:48]Yeah.

[01:30:51]Heat.