Sir Mo Farah's childhood - 25th July 2022

Sir Mo Farah, an Olympic runner for the UK, has told a secret about his childhood. He was taken to the UK illegally by a woman, who also changed his name. She trafficked him and then forced him to work for her.

The nine year old boy became a child slave. He was forced to do housework and look after her children. Farah has hidden this information about his past for many years. Instead, he used to say he travelled with his parents from Somalia.

But the world-famous athlete has now spoken his truth. Farah's family, who are from Somaliland, never came to the UK. When he was four, his father was killed by fighters. When Farah travelled to the UK, he thought that he was going to live with relatives.

But this didn't happen. Farah was kept in the woman's flat. He couldn't leave or contact his family. The woman didn't send him to school until he was 12.

Farah's teachers worried that he wasn't cared for and couldn't speak much English. The PE teacher saw that Mo could run. He realised that this talent was a possible career.

Sir Mo Farah wants to educate the public about slavery and trafficking. Many other young people are experiencing similar situations.