Athletics: Farah unfazed by flummoxed reporter

LOS ANGELES: Double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah appeared perplexed but kept his poise after being asked by a New Orleans television presenter if he had ever run before.

Britain’s Farah, the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metre champ in the 2012 Summer Olympics, won the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon in record time which earned him a live interview with local WSDU television reporter LaTonya Norton.

“Now haven’t you run before?” asked Norton, who also confused the half-marathon with the marathon. “Haven’t you run before? This isn’t your first time.”

Farah grinned and said he had competed in half-marathons previously but this was his first appearance e in New Orleans.

The good-natured Somali-born Farah modestly made no mention in the Sunday interview – which provoked a spate of internet chatter – of his London gold medal heroics.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.