Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama "Mo" Farah, CBE (Somali: Maxamed Mukhtaar Jaamac Faarax; born 23 March 1983) is a British distance runner. On the track, he mostly competes over 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, but has run competitively from 1500 metres to the marathon.
The most successful British track athlete in modern Olympic Games history, he is the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist in both the 5000 m and 10,000 m, and is the second athlete in modern Olympic Games history, after Lasse Virén, to successfully defend the 5000 m and 10,000 m titles. Farah also completed the 'distance double' at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships in Athletics. He was the second man in history after Kenenisa Bekele, to win long-distance doubles at successive Olympics and World Championships, and the first in history to defend both distance titles in both major global competitions - a feat described as the 'quadruple-double'. Farah's unbeaten streak in global distance finals runs to 9, having finished 2nd in the 10,000 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics; as of 2017 he has won every global final at either distance since that date.
Born in Somalia, Farah moved to the UK as a child. He was originally based in London and ran for Newham and Essex Beagles athletics club, training at St Mary's University College, Twickenham from 2001 to 2011. Farah runs distance races tactically, and unlike previous legends of the sport, has not threatened the world records at his two signature distances; although he can maintain a fast pace, his victories have been achieved through tactical prowess, a strong psychological presence on his rivals, and by his ability to employ a sprint finish.