Mo Farah kneeled down on the track and kissed the ground as he realised his Olympic dream by winning gold in the 10,000m.

Farah sealed his status as one of the stars of British athletics in front of 80,000 spectators in the Olympic Stadium. It was a sign of his talent that even the Ethiopians and the Kenyans, who dominate track and field middle distance running, had known that he was one of the ones to watch.

Gutsy Somali-born Farah, who coined the motto “Go Hard or Go Home”, has clearly more than stepped it up a gear since a disappointing Olympic debut in Beijing 2008 when he failed to reach the 5,000m final.

Back in June Farah insisted he could still improve despite becoming the first man to retain the 5,000m title in the history of the European Championships. The outing reinforced his position as favourite for Olympic gold in London with a supremely composed display. He took the lead with five laps to go and never looked in danger of being overtaken.

Then the 29-year-old, who is also world champion over the distance, powered to victory in 13 minutes 29.91 seconds.

Farah spends most of his time in the United States where he has been able to train away from the spotlight. In the big competitions, the Ethiopians have the advantage of working as a team against him.

Farah spent most of his early life in Djibouti and arrived in London when he was eight to join his father. He grew up in Hanworth, west London.

Farah’s story from the poverty-stricken streets of Somalia to top flight athletics is one that serves as an inspiration, both in Britain and his place of birth.

His charity – the Mo Farah Foundation – is helping to provide life-saving aid to some of the millions of people facing starvation and disease in East Africa.

Farah currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife Tania and daughter Rihanna. He is coached by Alberto Salazar and runs for the Nike Oregon Project.

The Press Association