Mo Farah in I’m a Celebrity profile: Everything you need to know about the Olympic athlete

Athlete was one of the most recognisable names to appear in this year’s line-up

The 20th series of I’m a Celebrity kicked off last month with a star-studded lineup that included soap actors, TV presenters and radio DJs.

Of all the celebrities on the roster, however, Sir Mo Farah is likely the biggest household name.

Farah became a fan favourite during his time in the castle, which came to an unexpected end on Wednesday (2 December). The evening’s episode saw the Olympic athlete complete his final Bushtucker trial alongside professional dancer AJ Pritchard before the two were voted off the competition.

As the nation's most decorated athlete, the 37-year-old Somalian-born Brit is a national treasure.

Farah – full name Mohammad Farah – is best known for competing in the 5000m and 10,000m races, both of which he won gold for in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. The landmark wins made him only the second athlete in history (after Finland’s Lasse Virén) to place first in those races in two consecutive Olympics.

The runner’s achievements were nationally recognised when he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2013 and was knighted by the Queen in the 2017 New Year Honours for his service to athletics.

Following a hugely successful career on the track, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, six-time world champion and five-time European champion switched his medal-winning focus to marathons instead.

In 2018, the runner took home gold in the Chicago Marathon, finishing in two hours, five minutes and 11 seconds. His time remains a British and European record.

Mo Farah in episode two of this year’s I’m a Celeb (ITV)

Most recently, in September 2020, Farah returned to the track to break a world record. The athlete ran further in an hour – 21,330m – than any other person in history.

Read more: Meet all the 2020 I’m a Celebrity contestants

When Farah moved from Somalia to join his father in London aged eight, he had expected to pursue a career in football. Instead, at the age of 11, he was guided into running by a dedicated sports teacher, who later served as best man at Farah’s 2010 wedding.

Speaking about going on I’m a Celebrity, the athlete said that he had agreed as a way of “challenging myself” in a new way.

Read more:  Inside the ‘haunted’ castle where I’m A Celebrity is filmed

“[People] associate me with running and winning but nothing other than that. And my kids have been on at me too, saying, ‘I can’t see you doing that, Dad!’ but I want to give it a go!” he said.

Farah married his wife, Tania Nell, in April 2010. The pair have three children – twin daughters, Aisha and Amani (eight) and son, Hussein, who was born in 2015. 

He also has a stepdaughter named Rihanna through his marriage to Nell.

Read more: Catch up on talking points from Tuesday’s (16 November) episode.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! airs nightly at 9pm on ITV.