Somali-born athletes making a mark in Europe

A remarkable group of athletes with Somali origins has risen to prominence in European athletics. Among these exceptional individuals are marathoner Abdi Nageeye, distance running icon Mo Farah, Belgian sensation Bashir Abdi, steeplechase maestro Mustafa Mohamed, and Canadian standout Mohammed Ahmed.

Abdi Nageeye - Netherlands

Abdi Nageeye was born on March 2, 1989, in Mogadishu. When he was just six years old, his family made the move to the Netherlands. However, their journey was far from straightforward. At some point, he made the decision to relocate to Syria, accompanied by his brother. Eventually, they returned to Somalia. He found refuge in the Netherlands, specifically in the charming Dutch village of Oldebroek, where a caring foster family welcomed him after his daring escape.

His remarkable ability to run that truly shone through when he effortlessly completed a 5K race in a mere 17 minutes at the tender age of 17. Inspired by this achievement, he decided to join a nearby athletic club and quickly began making significant progress in the sport. At the European Cross Country Championships, he made his international debut, which marked the start of an extraordinary athletic journey.

Shifting gears to road racing, Nageeye proudly donned the Netherlands' colours at the prestigious Rio 2016 Olympics marathon, securing an impressive 11th place finish. His exceptional talent was evident as he consistently secured top-10 finishes at renowned events such as the Boston Marathon in 2016 and 2018. Throughout his journey, he consistently broke Dutch national records, establishing himself as one of the top long-distance runners in the country.

He is also an extraordinary linguist  as he effortlessly converses in Somali, Dutch, Arabic, English, and Amharic. Interesting tidbit: he trains and lives in Kaptagat, Kenya.

Mo Farah - UK

Mo Farah, a British distance runner of Somali descent, has had an incredible journey in the world of athletics. His achievements in the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre races at both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics are nothing short of extraordinary.

Farah recently disclosed in a 2022 documentary that his true birth name is Hussein Abdi Kahin and that he was born in what is now known as Somaliland.

Farah's remarkable athletic abilities became evident at a young age, as he secured his first English school's cross-country championship in 1997. Notably, he garnered support from influential figures such as Paula Radcliffe and Sir Eddie Kulukundis. In 2001, he achieved a remarkable feat by winning the European junior 5,000-metre title under the guidance of coach Alan Storey. His career took off when he relocated to Portland, Oregon, to train under the renowned Alberto Salazar. The rest is history.

Bashir Abdi - Belgium

Bashir reunited with his mother after four long years of separation when he arrived in Belgium in 2002 from Somalia.

At the age of 16, he had a life-changing experience that completely transformed his perspective on running. It all started when a friend convinced him to participate in a 5-kilometre race in Brussels, even though he had never considered himself a runner. Surprisingly, he managed to secure a remarkable third place in the race, all while wearing his football gear. This unexpected achievement opened up a whole new world for him. In just two short years, he had the incredible opportunity to represent Belgium at the prestigious European Cross Country Championships. This momentous occasion marked the start of his remarkable journey in the world of athletics.

Mustafa Mohamed - Sweden

Mohammed, who hails from Mogadishu, Somalia, made the life-changing decision to move to Sweden when he was just 11 years old in 1990.

In the 1998 World Junior Championships, Mohammed showcased his immense potential by securing an impressive eighth-place finish.

Mohammed's talents go far beyond steeplechases. In 1997, he achieved an impressive feat by securing a bronze medal at the junior level in the Nordic Cross Country Championships. In 2003, his accomplishments reached new heights as he secured the silver medal at the senior level. Later on, Mohammed reached the highest level of achievement by winning the highly sought-after gold medal in 2006.

In 2007, Mohammed achieved a historic feat by shattering a long-standing Swedish record in the steeplechase event with an impressive time of 8:05:75.

Mohammed Ahmed - Canada

Mohammed Ahmed, born in Mogadishu on January 5, 1991, has made a name for himself in the world of Canadian athletics. At the age of 11, his family made the move to St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Ahmed's passion for running ignited at a young age, propelling him to remarkable achievements on the track. His exceptional talent and dedication led him to secure the Canadian junior 5000m championship title an impressive four times.

Ahmed's journey began in 2012 when he made his Olympic debut, marking the start of an incredible athletic career. Over the years, he proudly represented Canada in not just one but three Olympic Games. He has consistently proven himself as a formidable athlete on both the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games stages.

He secured a bronze medal in the 5000 metres at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, marking a historic achievement for Canada as it was their first ever medal in this event.

Ahmed secured a place in history by clinching the silver medal in the highly competitive men's 5000 metres at the Tokyo Olympics. This outstanding feat not only brought glory to Canada, but also marked the first time a Canadian athlete has ever medaled in this event at the Olympics.