Pride of former teacher who spotted athlete’s potential

The schoolteacher who spotted Mo Farah’s running genius as a schoolboy spoke of his pride that his former pupil has now become Britain’s most successful track and field athlete.

Alan Watkinson said he was “incredibly proud” as he watched Farah, 33, win his fourth Olympic gold medal to become only the second man in history to retain the 5,000m and 10,000m titles.

He said: “In 2012 (after the London Olympics) it just did not seem possible. You dream of a pupil getting an Olympic gold who you have taught, and in one sense that would be off the scale, for it to happen four times at the Olympics, and five times at the World Championships, and for him to be talked of as among the greatest athletes in the world, and certainly the greatest Britain has produced, is a little surreal.”

A strong friendship has grown between the pair since Mr Watkinson was Farah’s PE teacher at Feltham Community College, west London, and helped nurture Farah from when he arrived in Britain from war-torn Somalia as an 11-year-old immigrant barely able to speak English. Mr Watkinson was also Farah’s best man.

Only one other man, the Flying Finn, Lasse Viren, has successfully defended an Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m track double.

Mr Watkinson said: “If you look at that particular child when he was 11, in a comprehensive school in a fairly deprived area. He spoke little English and academically he found things a little bit difficult.

“It was a potential catastrophe waiting to happen, but he has shown if you are willing to focus, mix with people and engage in the culture all sorts of things can be achieved.”

Picture: PA. Distance runner Mo Farah with his two gold medals from Rio.