A four times British Muslim Olympic gold medallist is delighted at suggestions of being knighted and says ease at passport control could be one of the perks.
Mohamed Muktar Jama “Mo” Farah won two gold medals at this summer’s Rio Olympics and two in London 2012.
He told Hello! Magazine that getting a knighthood would be “amazing”.
He added: “It would be good if I could get the word ‘Sir’ on my passport. It might get me through passport control quicker. There have got to be some perks.”
In 2013 he was made a CBE and this year made history by becoming the first man in 40 years to win gold medals in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres at two consecutive Olympic Games.
In the interview he also revealed he had dedicated his four gold medals to each of his children: his eldest daughter, Rihanna, 11, his twin daughters Aisha and Amani, 4, and his son, Hussain, 10 months.
He told the magazine: “I could never have dreamed that I’d get four golds, I won these medals for my children.”
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Farah is a devout Muslim who was born in Somalia before moving to the UK at a young age.
He has publicly stated many times that Islam plays a very important role in his life and he tries to pray five times a day.
In 2012 he told Emel magazine in a candid interview: “You’ve got to believe in God. Everything happens for a reason, so you shouldn’t get wound up. I think the way I am, the way I’m chilled out, has a lot to do with being Muslim and having faith.
”It also says in the Qur’an that you must work hard in whatever you do, so I work hard in training and that’s got a lot to do with being successful. It’s doesn’t just come overnight, you’ve got to train for it and believe in yourself; that’s the most important thing.”
