British Olympian Sir Mo Farah claims he is being harassed for money by the man whose name he took when he was illegally smuggled into Britain as a child.
Born in Somalia, Sir Mo was trafficked to Britain as a child and forced to work as a domestic servant. His father was killed in civil violence when he was only four.
He was born Hussein Abdi Kahin but was smuggled into Britain as an illegal immigrant under a fake passport bearing his new identity ‘Mo Farah’ – a name stolen from another child.
After revealing his story in a documentary in 2022, Sir Mo offered to help the man whose name he stole as a child.
But now it has ended in emotional blackmail, it is alleged.
A source said The sun that Sir Mo had to change his phone number after his namesake incessantly asked for cash.
Sir Mo told the man he would keep in touch and reportedly sent him around £5,000.
However, it is believed the other Mo got his hands on the Olympian’s phone number and used it to harass him for money, it is alleged.
Sir Mo celebrated with a Union Jack flag after winning the men’s 10,000 meters at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing
Sir Mo Farah holds up a photo of himself as a child during the filming of the BBC documentary The Real Mo Farah, which airs on Wednesday evening
Mo Farah, the real Mo Farah, talks to Olympic runner Mo Farah, whose real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin, during filming for the documentary
The source said Sir Mo felt he was being harassed and hunted.
They said, ‘He’s taken a step back. He didn’t want to make a big fuss about it, but thought it better not to worry about it.
‘He had to change his telephone number. It is unfair that Sir Mo has to deal with this.
‘He feels like the victim. He’s just tired and finds it so sad.’
Sir Mo became a household name after winning gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the 2012 London Olympics – thanks in no small part to his signature ‘Mobot’ celebration.
He repeated his double gold success in Rio in 2016 and also has six world athletics titles and five European titles to his name.
Sir Mo was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2017 and was a campmate in the 2020 series of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Last month, Sir Mo chased a getaway van from two thieves who stole his phone.
Sir Mo speaks to his brother Hassan and mother Aisha (pictured holding) during filming for BBC documentary The Real Mo Farah
Sir Mo kneels as he is appointed Knight Bachelor of the British Empire by the Queen during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2017
The four-time gold medalist took action after thugs struck while he was running with his wife Tania.
The couple was jogging through the wealthy 964-acre gated community where they live when Sir Mo, comforted by the extensive security on site, decided to leave his device on the side of a private road, intending to give it to to get to the end. of his running.
But moments later, the former 10,000 and 5,000 meter champion spotted a large white van, which looked out of place compared to the top sports cars and SUVs usually seen on the exclusive estate.
The vehicle, which was carrying two men, stopped so one of them could grab the phone from the path before driving away.
But they hadn’t realized who they were up against.
Showing what one spectator described as the ‘Olympic speed’ of a top sprinter, 41-year-old Sir Mo turned on his competitive spirit and set off at ‘full throttle’.
He gave chase through the tree-lined streets with his wife watching and soon caught up with the hapless thieves, who immediately realized who they were dealing with. Hijacked, they returned the phone before running off.