The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– ‘I wasn’t focused’ –
Farah, who was forthright with regard to US President Donald Trump’s remarks about Muslims last year when he was a candidate describing them as “blasphemy”, also had to put up with racist comments at his London school.
“It was difficult to adapt to London at first but when you’re aged eight, you somehow find a way,” Farah told ‘The Big Issue’, the weekly magazine which is sold by the homeless last year.
“You make friends. I was always quite accepted, I think because I never saw myself as different to anyone else, a different colour. I had white friends, black friends.
“I was easy going. The occasional comment, I just chose not to hear it.
“I was good at running so the kids liked me for that. If I hadn’t been into running I wouldn’t have made friends, met so many people and learned the language as quickly as I did.”
Farah, who is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Tania and four children which includes twin girls born soon after his 2012 Olympic double, will bow out with few regrets outwardly at least save that had he been more disciplined early on his legacy would be even greater.
“I wasn’t focused when I was 16,” he told ‘The Big Issue’.
“I was just chilling out, going to school, seeing my friends. I wasn’t taking running seriously.
“I’m not complaining but now I think if I’d listened to my coach more then maybe I could have been more successful. I could have won more medals.”
