KENYA - ATHLETICS: Mo Farah and other British athletes train in Kenyan highlands

Record ID: 362222

  • Title: KENYA - ATHLETICS: Mo Farah and other British athletes train in Kenyan highlands
  • Date: 26th January 2012
  • Summary: ITEN, KENYA (JANUARY 24, 2012) (REUTERS) STADIUM, ATHLETES AT KAMARINY STADIUM BRITAIN'S IAAF WORLD 5000M CHAMPION MO FARAH WARMING UP BRITISH COACHING TEAM WATCHING FARAH BRITISH ATHLETES WARMING UP VARIOUS OF MO FARAH STRETCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD 5000M CHAMPION MO FARAH SAYING: "I'm really excited because Olympics does not come around often. It's right
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAC3T03LYL7XMZBYL6K93G1AE0K
  • Story Text: The UK's top-ranked distance runner and reigning 5000m world champion, Mo Farah, runs intervals along a dusty clay track in the thin air of Kenya's 'Home of Champions' -- the north western highlands.
    It was a light workout on Tuesday (January 24) for the Somalia-born British runner, who next runs in February's Aviva International Race in Glasgow, but his sights are already on the London Olympics.
    "I'm really excited because Olympics does not come around often. It's right on our doorstep so I'm looking forward to it. I just have to stay injury-free, keep training and stay focussed; that's my main aim," said Farah.
    He and other British athletes are training at Kamariny stadium, Iten, the preparation ground for some of Kenya's finest distance runners.
    Farah lives in Oregon in the USA and is coached by Cuba-born former U.S. marathon runner Alberto Salazar. He has become one of Britain's best hopes for Olympic glory in London.
    Under three-times New York marathon winner Salazar, the 28-year-old has set a European 10000m record of 26 minutes 46.57 seconds and finished the season as the fastest man over 5000.
    Farah says he plans to qualify for both events in London, but the final decision would be made a few days before the Olympics commence.
    "I will just do the same as in Daegu (world championships), but it just depends on how I feel. It does not mean, as I said, I am going to go for both. I'm going to try out but obviously if the 10(-thousand metres) comes before the five(-thousand metres), I will be entered in both events, but it just depends on how well it goes," he said.
    Farah moved to Britain from Somalia when he was eight years old and is now one of the most recognisable track athletes in the world. Saddened by the problems of Somalia, he has launched the Mo Farah Foundation to help distribute aid.
    "It has been pretty good, my wife has been very helpful. As an athlete you know when you are always training hard you don't have a lot of time, but you have to start off somewhere and it's going well. Hopefully after 2012 we will do more to focus on that to help the, you know, out in Somalia, you know. The situation there is really bad so, we try that's the first step but after that we're just going to see what we can do," he said.
    Veteran British running coach George Gandy was also in Iten on Tuesday and praised the Kenyas.
    "Mo came out here yeah quite early, before we had as part of our system that we were offering camps here, so he has been helped by UK Athletics to get out here and mix with the Kenyans you know. Basically, in a way this is where it is at. These people around here are phenomenal, inspirational people. The best runners in the world train here so the best thing we can do is get close with them and I think Mo has benefitted from doing that over quite a few years," said Gandy.
    Farah, who has trained in Kenya on and off for four years, says the pain of missing out on medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, where he finished sixth in his heat, has made him physically and mentally tougher ahead of his home Olympics. Many insiders including coach Gandy are excited by his medal prospects this year.
    "I think most people in Britain who are involved in athletics, or enjoy athletics are very excited by the progress that Mo's made and the Olympics is the you know ultimate as far as athletics is concerned so, bring the talented individual to the stage and put him on what is the biggest stage in sport in the world and you can't help but get extremely excited, even now. The important thing is not to get too excited now because we've still got a few months to go yet, so we try and keep it in perspective and then hope he can deliver when the time comes," said Gandy.
    The London Olympics will be held from July 27 to August 12.
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