Mo Farah Reveals His Trouble at US Immigration Thanks to His Full Name _ Mail Online

7/27/2019 Mo Farah Reveals His Trouble at US Immigration Thanks to His Full Name _ Mail Online

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'I always get stopped': Mo Farah reveals histrouble at US immigration thanks to his full

name

Double gold medal winner Mo Farah says US customs offic ials always pull him

aside

Farah said he believes it's because his full named is Mohamed

The Olympic star moved to Port land, Oregon, two years ago to train out of the

spotlight

By David Wilkes

PUBLISHED: 18:30 GMT, 15 October 2013 | UPDATED: 19:31 GMT, 15 October 2013

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Winner: Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah was celebrated in the London 2012 Olympic

Parade. His fame hasn't swayed US customs officials who still insisted on going through


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checks even after seeing his medals

As one of the most famous athletes in the world, getting recognised can be a problem for Mo Farah.Everywhere except in American airports, that is.

For more than a year after his double gold medal triumph at London 2012, the Olympic star is still 'always'pulled aside by suspicious US customs officials - because his full name is Mohamed, he said today.

Even showing them his medals does not stop them suspecting he is a terrorist and questioning him.

But the runner also told how it is impossible for him to train in Britain - because he is too well known andwould get mobbed by fans.

Farah, who moved to Portland, Oregon, two years ago to work with coach Alberto Salazar, said: 'I'malways stopped by US customs. I think it's something to do with my name, that's the only thing I can puttogether.

'I always get stopped and get questioned. It used to be really bad where you'd get stopped and go throughto a room and they'd do an extra search - "What are you doing here? How many countries you been to?".'

Asked if he'd ever been tempted to show them his 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals, he said: 'I did at onepoint when I was coming through and they were like "No matter, I still need to do this search".'

Somali-born Farah, 30, who moved to the UK with his British-born father at eight, remains sanguine aboutthe situation, however, and believes it is down to 'the system on the computer'.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, he said: 'When I was coming here even, I was trying tocheck in and it won't let me check in so I go to the lady and ask her to check in and then she had to make aspecial call.

'Before you actually check in you have to make a call to make sure you're clear then you check in. I alwayshave a fair problem.'

Pride: Farah celebrated winning the men's 5000metre event, his second go ld medal at

London 2012, by draping himself in the Union flag


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Do the Mobot: Farah was recognised for his 'Mobot' sign during the Olympic games

Previously it has been reported that Farah, who was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours list, washauled aside at customs as he returned to his training base in Oregon just before last Christmas.

Afterwards, he said: 'I even got my medals out to show who I am, but they wouldn't have it.' He waseventually allowed into the US.

Farah, who trains in Kenya as well as the US, also told how despite his love of the fans who cheered himon to double Olympic glory, he could not train in the UK because his fame and the attention it brings wouldinterrupt his strict regime.

'It's not possible for me to train in Britain because of the amount of miles I do. I love the people, I love thesupport and I want to be here, but if I want to win medals I need the simple life - eat, sleep, train, not worryabout anything else,' he said.


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Training: The athlete, pictured here winning the 5000metres at the European Athletic

Championships in Barcelona, moved t o America tw o years ago t o t rain

World champion: Mo Farah, pictured here winning the 3000metres at the European

Athlet ics in Turin , is a household name and recognisable f igure to many bu t st ill getschallenged at US airports

'Unfortunately I can't do that right now. But I will be back at some point.' Farah is currently in the UKpromoting his autobiography Twin Ambitions. While he was being brought up in the UK, his twin brother


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Hassan was 6000 miles away in Somalia.

Although they were separated until he went to his brother's wedding in 2003, Farah says they have sincebeen in touch every day and 'the way I see it we are not different people, we are part of the same person'.

He added: 'I made him run with me in 2003. I was quite amused because he almost kept up with me for alittle while.'

Farah's 'new goal' is to prove himself as a marathon runner in next year's London Marathon, but he

dismissed reports he'd said he could cover the 26.2 miles in under two hours.

'To say I'm going to break two hours when I've never run a marathon is crazy,' said Farah, who ran half theevent this year as preparation for his full debut in 2014. 'My target is to get close to the British record whichis 2 minutes 7 seconds.'

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Soon-to-be-expat, UK, United Kingdom, 9 hours ago

Mohammed is the most popular name in the world. I find it hard to believe US Customs and Border Patrol will literally stop everysingle Mohammed passing through the borders. They'd need an overflow room in addition to the secondary waiting room!

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ss, wd, 10 hours ago

suprise suprise they check who come in their country unlike open borders uk

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D.Brook, London, United Kingdom, 10 hours ago

I have bigger, more important problems than that, so i'm not to worried that he gets questioned at airports when jetting around the

world.

4498

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Fiona, Surrey, United Kingdom, 10 hours ago

Oh get over your self, im English to the bone, so is my father and we always get "extra security checks" (marked on bordingpasses as SSSS) at every part of our journey across the USA to Alaska even at tiny airports in AK we get it, we are just goingfishing! But... it does not matter! Extra checks are not a problem if you have nothing to hide are they!

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gerryO, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 10 hours ago

Security is security. Never mind the 'Do you know who I am?'

50136

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Percy Verance, London, United Kingdom, 11 hours ago

He looks more like an extra from day of the zombies, good job he is in America as it the only country with enough room for his bighead and ego, cannot understand this obsession with a guy that has merely run a few races, he has not changed the world.

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Jon Cooper, Cornwall, 11 hours ago

same old story, jobsworths all over the world just love the tiny bit of power they have, love to make you miserable for a fewminutes if they possibly can.

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Sam Amoon, Dallas TX, United States, 11 hours ago

Be proud of your name Mohammed. You have the best name.

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Mo Farah Reveals His Trouble at US Immigration Thanks to His Full Name _ Mail Online

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