Triple Zero (000) is the primary national emergency number in Australia.^[1] The Emergency Call Service is operated by Telstra a condition of its telecommunications licence, and is intended only for use in life-threatening or time-critical emergencies. Other emergency numbers in Australia are 112 for GSM mobile and satellite phones, which is answered by a Triple Zero (000) operator and 106 for TDD textphones. Triple Zero (000) was also the emergency number in Denmark and Finland until the introduction of the 112 number in 1993.

For calls to the State Emergency Service the Australia wide number 132 500 can be used (except for in the Northern Territory). This number should only be used for non life threatening situations.

History[link]

Prior to 1969, Australia did not have a national number for emergency services; the police, fire and ambulance services possessed many phone numbers, one for each local unit. In 1961, the office of the Postmaster General (PMG) introduced the Triple Zero (000) number in major population centres and near the end of the 1980s extended its coverage to nationwide. The number Triple Zero (000) was chosen for several reasons: technically, it suited the dialling system for the most remote automatic exchanges, particularly outback Queensland. These communities used the digit 0 to select an automatic trunk line to a centre. In the most remote communities, two 0s had to be used to reach a main centre; thus dialling 0+0, plus another 0 would call (at least) an operator. Zero is closest to the finger stall on Australian rotary dial phones, so it was easy to dial in darkness.^[2]

911 was previously considered as a potential emergency number, though existing numbering arrangements make this unfeasible due to homes and businesses being assigned numbers beginning with 911^[3] .

Calling Triple Zero (000)[link]

Calling Triple Zero (000) connects the caller to a Telstra operator who will then connect the caller to the emergency service organisation calltaker. Telstra operators do not take any details or dispatch services; instead they ask the caller if they require the "Police, Fire, Ambulance?" and their location if calling from a mobile phone or nomadic service (i.e. Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP). The caller is then connected to the relevant emergency service answer point as requested by the caller.

As soon as the emergency service calltaker answers the call, the available caller location information is transferred to the emergency service. The emergency service calltaker will then query the caller for the relevant details and dispatch the required response.

The caller's address is always available to Telstra operators for fixed services in Australia even if the number is "private" (except for VoIP services). However, emergency service organisation calltakers will always ask for the address of the emergency to be stated whenever possible to ensure an accurate location is provided^[4] - this is especially important in the case of "third-party" callers who are not personally on the scene of the incident (e.g relatives or alarm monitoring corporations). When calling from a mobile telephone, callers should always attempt to provide accurate location details. This will assist emergency calltakers, and will expedite emergency service dispatch, as this information is not always readily available during the call.

Within Australia, Triple Zero (000) is a free call from any telephone. Dialling Triple Zero (000) (or 112) on most Australian GSM mobile phones will override any keypad lock, and if the caller's home network is out of range, the phone will attempt to use other carrier's networks to relay the call. Interpreter services may also be available once connected to Emergency Services.

Due to special configuration in their firmware, some 3G or GSM mobile phones sold in Australia will redirect other emergency numbers, such as 9-1-1 and 9-9-9, to Triple Zero (000). These calls are sent out by the handset as an emergency flag to the network and as such are treated in the same way as a call to Triple Zero (000).

Victoria[link]

In the state of Victoria, emergency service dispatch and call-taking for Police, Ambulance in most parts of the state, and both rural and metropolitan fire services, is handled by the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA). ESTA operates over three sites, located in the Melbourne CBD, East Burwood, and Mount Helen. Currently, some rural Ambulance communication is still facilitated at a local level by Ambulance Victoria, however the various regional ambulance call-taking centres are progressively being rolled into the Mount Helen ESTA facility. When a person calls 000 for emergency response within Victoria, the Telstra operator will connect him or her to the relevant ESTA facility, where a trained calltaker will collect information from the caller, and enter this into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Using this information, a trained dispatcher will respond with the appropriate emergency services or resources. Services are often already being notified by the dispatcher while the call-taker is still obtaining further information or giving advice, such as guiding the caller through CPR. ESTA is also responsible for Victorian State Emergency Service call-taking and dispatch, although this service cannot be contacted by dialling 000, as SES calls are not considered to be life-threatening. Many ESTA practices and protocols are standardised across all emergency services agencies, and all agencies use the same computer network. The result is complete and instantaneous information sharing between emergency services.

Issues[link]

SES[link]

As the Australian Communications and Media Authority does not regard State Emergency Service (SES) calls as life-threatening, this service cannot be contacted via Triple Zero (000). If dialling Triple Zero (000), asking Telstra for the SES will result in connection to a recorded announcement explaining how to contact these services.

2003 overload in Melbourne[link]

On 3 December 2003, floods and storms in Melbourne caused a large influx of Triple Zero (000) calls, which prevented some calls from being answered immediately. This caused some users interviewed by authorities to believe that they may have accidentally dialed the wrong number. A subsequent investigation recommended that a recorded announcement be implemented to assure callers that their calls were being connected.^[5] Callers to Triple Zero (000) are now greeted with a recorded message, which states "You have dialed emergency triple-zero. Your call is being connected."

Triple Oh[link]

Emergency services and Australia's Communications Regulator prefer the phrase "triple zero" over "triple oh" because of potential confusion and misunderstanding over keying the number when using alpha-numeric keypads. This could cause people to dial "666" in an emergency, not Triple Zero (000), or even enter the alphabet characters OOO if using a computer-based dialler or telephone software such as VoIP (a feature intended to be used for numbers advertised as a phrase or word, such as 13 CABS or 1800 REVERSE).

Remote locations[link]

One major obstacle in earlier 2009^[6] is the inability of operators of triple-0 to use GPS within GSM or CDMA systems to accurately locate distressed or injured persons using mobile phones visibly away from roads. Presently, operators must ask the caller exactly where they are. The answer to this may need to correspond to an existing road name (which may be practically impossible for distressed person(s) some kilometres away from a road) prior to the Emergency Service Organisation operator being able to dispatch an emergency service vehicle. In 2010, the Australian Communications and Media Authority are researching options that may provide improved location information for mobile services when dialling Triple Zero (000).

David Iredale[link]

The NSW State Labor Government has admitted to failings regarding the death of David Iredale, a high school student who died of dehydration in the bush near Katoomba in late 2006.^[7][8] Iredale made several calls for help to 000 prior to his death.^[9] Emergency services, specifically the NSW Ambulance Service Triple-zero call centre, were accused of inappropriately handling Iredale's calls; he was not provided with any medical advice, and operators were accused of being "pre-occupied" with obtaining a street address to send help to, despite the fact that Iredale was located in the bush. An inquest set up to investigate failings in the 000 system as a result of his death identified serious issues in the practices used by 000 operators.^[10]

See also[link]

• 111 Emergency phone number in New Zealand.
• 112 Emergency phone number across the European Union and on GSM mobile networks across the world.
• 119 Emergency phone number in parts of East Asia.
• 911 Emergency phone number in US and Canada.
• 999 Emergency phone number in Ireland, Poland and United Kingdom (where it works parallel to 112). Also an emergency number in several non-EU countries.

• Emergency telephone
• Emergency telephone number
• In case of emergency (ICE) entry in the mobile phone book.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Australian Disaster Information Network: Triple Zero (000) - Australia's Emergency Call Service
• Australian Communications and Media Authority: Emergency Calls Service information
• Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (VIC)

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (May 2012)

Alexandra Stan
Background information
Birth name	Alexandra Stan
Born	(1989-06-10) 10 June 1989 (age 23)
Origin	Constanța, Romania
Genres	House, pop, dance
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician, entertainer, model, dancer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Maan Music, Media Pro Music, Ultra Records
Website	alexandrastan.ro

Alexandra Stan (sometimes stylized as Alexandra Staи) (born June 10, 1989) is a Romanian singer-songwriter. She released her debut single, "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)", in late 2009. The song impacted Romanian mainstream radios in early 2010, peaking at number-eighteen. Her sophomore release, "Mr. Saxobeat", became her worldwide breakthrough hit, selling almost 1,000,000 copies in less than a year and reaching the top five in over twenty countries such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom and the top thirty in Australia, Canada and United States. She released her debut album in August 2011, entitled Saxobeats. The album spawned another single called "Get Back (ASAP)".

Early life and early career[link]

Alexandra Stan was born in Constanța.^[1] She studied at the "Traian" High School in Constanța, and as of 2011 she is enrolled in her second year as a student at the Faculty of Management Andrei Saguna.^[1] In the past, she took part in various music-related contests with a notable appearance at the Mamaia Festival vocal performance-section.^[1] She took one year of canto lessons. During an interview, she stated that she believes in God and she has her religious principles, and she does believe in the Church.^[2]

[edit] Saxobeats era (2009–present)

In 2009, Stan released her debut promotional single, "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)"^[3] The song was out in late 2009 but impacted some major Romanian mainstream radio stations in early 2010, with an A-list addiment in May 2010. During summer 2010, she premiered a new track "Show Me The Way" and toured Romania. In September 2010, Stan premiered her second release "Mr. Saxobeat". In less than two months, the song became her greatest hit in Romania, peaking at number-one on the Romanian Top 100 and defending the position for eight consecutive weeks.^[4] The song was commercially successful worldwide. In early 2011, it entered the Spanish Singles Chart and debuted inside the top ten of the French Singles Chart as well as in the Canadian Hot 100. It has firstly hit the #1 position in Italy and Denmark, then in Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. In late May, "Saxobeat" became the first Romanian song to reach #1 in Germany since "Dragostea din Tei". It was a number-one in Austria, Germany and Switzerland for twenty weeks in total. It was also a top-five success in over twenty countries, including #2 in Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Netherlands, Norway and Scotland, as well as #3 in Spain, Sweden and the UK Singles Chart. In New Zealand it peaked at number-four, while on the Brasil Hot 100 at.number-six while in Australia, Canada and the US Billboard Hot 100 at #21, #24, 25 and 29 respectively. It was also a #1 in the UK Dance Chart and in the US Hot Dance Airplay for seven weeks (the longest run in the 2010s).

After the success of "Mr. Saxobeat", Stan released a follow-up "Get Back (ASAP)". So far, it peaked at number-one in Slovakia, at number-four in the Romanian Top 100, at number-eight in Finland and inside the top twenty in over five countries. The song "Lollipop" was re-released for international digital markets exclusively, but with no success. In summer 2011, Stan released another single, "Million", featuring famed German rapper Carlprit. As of September, 2011 the song has received little airplay in France and missed the top forty. Its music video's shots started on December 6, 2011.

On August 29, 2011, Alexandra Stan released her debut album, entitled "Saxobeats". It features eight tracks plus five remixes. The album was first released in France, then in Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Spain, Poland and Italy.^[5][6] It was released in the United States and Canada on October 25, through Ultra Records. It is yet to be released in the UK. Her fourth overall single "1,000,000" ft. German rap star Carlprit has just been sent to mainstream radio stations in Belgium, France and Romania.^[7] As of January 14, 2012, "1,000,000" has currently peaked at #13 on the Romanian Airplay Chart, its highest peak on the chart to date.^[8]

Stan received multiple certification awards for "Mr. Saxobeat", including platinum in Australia^[9] and Spain,^[10] Platinum in Denmark^[11] and Sweden^[12] and Multi-Platinum in Italy.^[13] At the 2011 Romanian Music Awards she received two nominations for "Mr. Saxobeat" ("Best Dance" and "Best Song", winning the latter) and two nods for herself "Best Female" and winning the "Borderbreaker Award". She was also nominated for Best European Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, after winning Best Romanian Act where she was nominated alongside rapper Guess Who and Puia, singer Smiley and band Fly Project. In November, Stan lost the Best European to Lena Meyer-Landrut from Germany.

Discography[link]

• Saxobeats (2011)

Singles[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alexandra Stan

• Official website

Galen Rupp

Rupp at the World Championship Athletics 2009 in Berlin.
Personal information
Born	(1986-05-08) May 8, 1986 (age 26) Portland, Oregon
Residence	Portland, Oregon
Height	5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m)
Weight	138 pounds (63 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Event(s)	Mile, 5000m, 10,000m, Cross Country
College team	Oregon Ducks
Coached by	Alberto Salazar
Achievements and titles
World finals	2007 10000 m, 11th 2009 10000 m, 8th[1] 2011 10000 m, 7th[2] 5000 m, 9th[3]
Olympic finals	2008 10000 m, 13th
Medal record Men’s athletics Competitor for the  United States Pan American Junior Championships Gold 2003 Bridgetown 5000 m

Galen Rupp (born May 8, 1986 in Portland, Oregon) is an American cross-country and track and field athlete, who competed for the University of Oregon and currently trains under Alberto Salazar as a member of the Oregon Track Club. Rupp competed for his native country in the men's 10000 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, finishing in 13th place. He is the current American record holder at 10,000 m with a time of 26:48.00. He is only the second non-African to break the 27-minute barrier in the 10,000 m behind compatriot Chris Solinsky.

Early career[link]

Rupp set junior national and American high school records while competing for Portland, Oregon's Central Catholic High School. Originally a soccer player, he caught the eye of American marathon legend Alberto Salazar, who coached him to great high school success, including two Oregon state titles in cross country (2002 & 2003) and three individual championships in track (1500 meters in 2004 and 3000 meters in 2003 & 2004). After winning the Oregon state title in cross country in 2003, he went on to finish 2nd nationally in the 2003 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. In the spring of 2004, Rupp won his 5000 meters heat against college runners at the Stanford Cardinal Invitational with a time of 13:55.32, fourth best in prep history. He went on to break the Oregon state record in the 1500 meters (3:45.3) and the mile (4:01.8), the latter mark being the eighth best in American high school history. In June 2004 Rupp broke the U.S. high school record for 3000 meters at 8:03.67 (since broken by German Fernandez), also breaking the high school record for 2000 meters en route (5:18.5). On July 31 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, he broke Gerry Lindgren’s 40-year old U.S. high school record for 5000 meters by almost seven seconds, running 13:37.91 for the distance. He finished his high school career with a 10,000 meters race of 29:09.56 in Brasschaat, Belgium, fourth fastest 10K ever for an American schoolboy.

After graduating from high school in the summer of 2004, Rupp took a semester off and then went on to run track and cross country for the University of Oregon.

College cross-country career[link]

After an injury shortened NCAA cross country season in 2005, Rupp came back in 2006 to defeat two-time Pac-10 champion Robert Cheseret, Bernard Lagat's brother, of the University of Arizona to become Oregon's 10th male runner to win a Pac-10 Conference cross country title. He also led a young Oregon team to victory over the Stanford Cardinal, who had won the previous six Pac-10 titles in a row. He went on to finish in 6th place in the 2006 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship. One year later, Rupp finished in second place (1 second behind the champion, Liberty's Josh McDougal) and led the Oregon Ducks to the 2007 NCAA men's cross country team championship.

In the 2008 NCAA national cross country championships, Rupp won his first individual NCAA title by outkicking Liberty University's Sam Chelanga, crossing the finish line with a time of 29:03.8, a new course record on the Terre Haute, IN site, and leading the Ducks to repeat as NCAA team champions.^[4]

College track and field career[link]

On May 7, 2005 at the Oregon Twilight Meet Rupp broke Rudy Chapa's U.S. junior (age 19 and under) record for 10,000 meters with a time of 28:25.52,^[5] Two months later, he placed 2nd in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.^[6] which is also the still the current North American and Pan American junior record. On July 17, 2005 Rupp broke Gerry Lindgren's U.S. junior record in the 3000 meters at Lignano, Italy with a time of 7:49.16,^[5] which also is the current North American and Pan American junior record.

In indoor track, Rupp placed 5th in the 5000 meters and 6th in the 3000 meters at the 2006 NCAA indoor championships, earning All American status in both events. His 2006 outdoor season was brief due to the onset of hypothyroidism.

A year later he finished 3rd in the 5000 and 4th in the 3000 at the 2007 NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship. He began his outdoor season by running a 28:35 10,000 meters at Stanford.^[6] During the race he caused some controversy by continually slowing down to wait for another athlete. On April 20, 2007 Rupp made a huge comeback in the last 200 meters of a 5000 meter race to edge out Chris Solinsky. In this race Rupp improved his 5k PR to 13:30. On April 29, 2007 Rupp defeated a stellar field to win the men's 10,000 meter race at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford. Rupp's time of 27:33.48 set an American-born NCAA Collegiate Record for the event and also gave Rupp the seventh fastest time in US history. Two weeks later Rupp won the 10k and the 5k at the Pac-10 conference meet, and helped Oregon to the team title.^[6] As in his freshman year, he went on to finish second in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA track & field championships.

After redshirting the 2008 track season to prepare for the Olympics, Rupp's 2009 track season was a resounding success. Indoors he joined the sub-4:00 club for the mile on March 7 by running a 3:57.86 at the Husky Last Chance Qualifier Meet in Seattle, WA. On February 13, 2009 he broke the American record for the indoor 5000 m with a time of 13:18.12 at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.^[7] At the NCAA indoor nationals, he won an unprecedented triple in the 5000 meters (13:41.45), the distance medley relay (running a 3:57.07 1600 meter anchor leg only 90 minutes after his 5000 victory), and the 3000 (7:48.94, the next day). This triple victory helped Oregon win its first ever indoor national team title.

Outdoors, Rupp helped break the NCAA 4 x mile record on May 10. Rupp (3:58.93) anchored the relay with fellow Oregon teammates Matt Centrowitz (3:59.53), Andrew Wheating (3:59.60), and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott (4:05.21), shaving a little more than a second off of the old record with a 16:03.24. After helping Oregon to defend their Pac-10 title, Rupp won the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the 2009 NCAA Division I outdoor track championships.^[8] In all, Rupp earned 14 All American honors at Oregon along with 5 individual championships, a relay championship, 2 NCAA cross country team titles and an indoor track NCAA team title.

In his last appearance for the University of Oregon, Rupp won the 10,000 meters at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field with a time of 27:52.53.^[9]

Rupp won the Inaugural Bowerman Award in 2009. The Bowerman Award is given to college track's Athlete of the Year.^[10]

Professional and Olympic career[link]

He made his global senior debut at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics and he came in eleventh in the 10,000 m race.^[11] Rupp finished second in the 10,000 m event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, earning a spot on the 2008 US Olympic team. He went on to finish 13th in the 10,000 m event at the 2008 Olympics with a season-best time of 27:36.99.^[6]

He turned professional in the 2009 season and defeated Dathan Ritzenhein to win the 10,000 m title at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.^[12] This earned him a place in the American team for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics where he was one of only two non-Africans in the top twelve alongside Ritzenhein.^[13] Without a major outdoor competition to focus on that year, he chose to compete at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships. He set a personal best of 7:42.40 for the 3000 m, taking fifth place in the final as a result.^[14] He knocked over twenty seconds off his previous 10,000 m best with a run of 27:10.74 in Palo Alto at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford. Coming into that race, the American 10,000 meter record was 27:13.98 by Meb Keflezighi, and though Rupp's time was over three seconds faster than that, he was beaten to the punch by Chris Solinsky who won the race with a New American record of 26:59.60. Two months later Rupp went on to retain his national title in the 10k with a win at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.^[15] Rupp competed on the 2010 IAAF Diamond League circuit and made a series of improvements to his personal records. He broke four minutes for the mile run at the Pre Classic, running 3:57.72,^[16] set a 3000 m outdoor best of 7:43.24 at the London Grand Prix,^[17] and then improved his 5000 m time to 13:07.35 at the season-ending Weltklasse meeting.^[18]

Rupp took part in the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in 2011 and came second behind Mo Farah, helping the American team to second place.^[19] He then took part in the New York City Half Marathon, his debut at that distance, and finished third in a time of 1:00:30,^[20][21] making him the 3rd fastest American at the half marathon. At the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships he once again retained his national title in the 10,000 m, closing the last 800 m in a quick 1:52.59, and came back the next day to finish third in the 5,000 m. Later in July he improved his personal best to 13:06.86 in the 5000 m at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham, out sprinting the reigning world cross country champion Imane Merga for second behind winner Mo Farah.

At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics Rupp finished 7th in the 10,000 meters in a seasonal best of 27:26.84. He then doubled back to run the 5,000 meters, and though he was in the lead with Mo Farah with a little more than a lap remaining, he was outkicked and finished in 9th place with a 13:28.64.

Rupp finished his track season with a new American record in the 10,000 meters as he ran 26:48.00 in finishing 3rd behind winner Kenenisa Bekele at the Memorial Van Damme meet on September 16th, 2011.^[22]

Rupp set a new American record in the 2 mile as he ran 8:09.72 in finishing 1st at the USATF Classic meet on February 11, 2012.

Personal bests[link]

References[link]

• Fraioli, Mario (26 November 2010). "Webb nips Rupp at Silicon Valley Turkey Trot". Competitor Network. Retrieved 2011-03-21.

External links[link]

• IAAF profile for Galen Rupp
• USATF profile for Galen Rupp
• University of Oregon bio: Galen Rupp
• Galen Rupp on Twitter

Audio interview[link]

• TheFinalSprint.com's interview with Galen Rupp on 5/17/07 after the Oregon Ducks won the 2007 PAC-10 title

Video Interviews[link]

• Flotrack coverage of Galen Rupp races
• Flotrack coverage of Galen Rupp Interview

Awards
Preceded by ---	The Bowerman (Men's winner) 2009	Succeeded by Ashton Eaton

Mohammed Farah

Farah at the 2008 European Cross Country Championships
Personal information
Nationality	British
Born	(1983-03-23) 23 March 1983 (age 29) Mogadishu, Somalia[1]
Residence	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Weight	65 kg (140 lb; 10.2 st)[2]
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m
Club	Newham and Essex Beagles Oregon Track Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	800 m: 1:48.69 (Eton 2003) 1500 m: 3:33.98 (Monaco 2009) 3000 m: 7:34.47 (Birmingham 2009) 5000 m: 12:53.11 (Monaco 2011) 10000 m: 26:46.57 (Eugene 2011) Half Marathon: 60:23 (New York 2011)
Medal record Men's athletics Competitor for  Great Britain World Championships Gold 2011 Daegu 5000 m Silver 2011 Daegu 10000 m European Championships Gold 2010 Barcelona 10000 m Gold 2010 Barcelona 5000 m Silver 2006 Göteborg 5000 m European Indoor Championships Gold 2009 Torino 3000 m Gold 2011 Paris 3000 m European Cross Country Championships Gold 2006 San Giorgio su Legnano Individual Silver 2008 Brussels Individual Silver 2009 Dublin Individual Silver 2009 Dublin Team Bronze 2008 Brussels Team European Team Championships Gold 2009 Leiria 5000 m

Mohamed "Mo" Farah (Somali: Muxammad Faarax, Arabic: محمد فرح‎; born 23 March 1983 in Mogadishu, Somalia^[1]) is a Somalia-born British international track and field athlete, and current 5000 m world champion. On the track, he generally competes over 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, but also runs the 3000 metres and occasionally the 1500 metres. He has expressed a desire to move up to the marathon after the 2012 Olympics.^[3]

Farah holds the European track record for 10,000 metres, the British road record for 10,000 metres, the British indoor record in the 3000 metres, the British track record for 5000 metres, the British half-marathon record, and the European indoor record for 5000 metres. In July 2010, Farah won Britain's first-ever men's European gold medal at 10,000 m.^[4] He followed this with a gold in the 5000 m, becoming the 5th male athlete to complete the long-distance double at the championships and the first British man to do so.^[5] At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, he won silver in the 10,000 m and gold in the 5000 m.^[6]

In addition, Farah competes in cross-country running, where in December 2006 he became European champion in Italy.^[7] He also took gold in the 3000 metres in both the 2009 and 2011 European Indoor Championships, in Turin and Paris respectively.

Farah was originally based in London and ran for Newham and Essex Beagles athletics club, training at St Mary's University College, Twickenham's sports facilities in Strawberry Hill from 2001 to 2011. In 2011 he relocated to Oregon, USA, in order to further his training. He is an ambassador for Bupa, Lucozade Sport and Nike. Farah was voted 2011 European athlete of the year from twelve nominees, with Christophe Lemaitre in second place.^[8]

Biography[link]

Junior career[link]

Farah was born in Somalia.^[1] He grew up in Djibouti, and arrived in Britain aged 8 years old, speaking barely a word of English.^[1] Farah's father, on the other hand,his father was born in England and grew up in Hounslow. His parents met after his father went on holiday to Somalia.^[9]

Farah attended Feltham Community College in London. His athletic talent was identified by physical education teacher Alan Watkinson at Isleworth and Syon School, who later said of Farah: "When I first met him, he was struggling academically and suffering from the language barrier.^[10] He needed focus and I sort of took him under my wing. His passion was football but it was his turn of speed on the pitch that showed his real talent. His ambitions consisted of playing on the right wing for Arsenal.^[11] Watkinson would offer Farah the incentive of playing football for 30 minutes in the gym before taking him to the running club.

In 1996, at the age of 13, Farah entered the English schools cross country and finished ninth. The following year he won the first of five English school titles.^[10]

His first major title was at 5000 metres at the European Athletics Junior Championship in 2001^[12], the same year that he began training at St Mary's University College, Twickenham. That year Farah became one of the first two athletes in the newly formed Endurance Performance Centre at St Mary’s. He lived and trained at the College, and took some modules in an access course before becoming a full-time athlete as his career progressed.

Senior career[link]

2005–2008[link]

In 2005, Farah made an important move, moving in with Australian Craig Mottram and a group of Kenyan runners that included 10,000 metres world number one Micah Kogo. "They sleep, eat, train and rest, that's all they do but as an athlete you have to do all those things. Running with Craig made me feel more positive," Farah said. "If I ever want to be as good as these athletes I've got to work harder. I don't just want to be British number one, I want to be up there with the best."^[10]

In July 2006, Farah clocked a time of 13 minutes 9.40 seconds for 5000 m to become Britain's second-fastest runner after Dave Moorcroft. A month later Farah collected the silver medal in the European Championship 5000 m in Gothenburg. Coaches Alan Storey and Mark Rowland made sure that Farah remained competitive and a few words from Paula Radcliffe before the 5000 m final inspired Farah. He has stated that: "She said to me, 'Go out and be brave. Just believe in yourself'."^[10]

In December 2006, Farah won the European Cross Country Championship in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy.^[7]

Farah represented the UK at 5000 m in the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Farah finished sixth in a time of 13:47.54.^[13]

In May 2008, Farah ran 10,000 m events, claiming the fastest UK men's time for almost eight years. However, he suffered disappointment at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, being knocked out before the final in the 5000 m event.

2009–2010: British records and European champion[link]

In January 2009, Farah set a new British indoor record in the 3000 metres, breaking John Mayock's record with a time of 7 minutes 40.99 seconds in Glasgow.^[14] A few weeks later he broke his own record by more than six seconds with a time of 7 minutes 34.47 at the UK Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham,^[15] a performance which commentator Steve Cram called "the best performance by a male British distance runner for a generation".^[16] Farah attributed his good form to a spell of winter training at altitude in Ethiopia and Kenya.^[17] In March 2009 he took gold in the 3000 m at the European Indoor Championships in Turin, recording a time of 7 minutes 40.17.^[18]

Farah shadowing Ayad Lamdassem in the 10,000 m final of the 2010 European Athletics Championships

He competed at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics: he was in the leading pack early on in the 5000 metres race and eventually finished seventh – the best by a European runner. After the championships, he scored a victory in his first road competition over 10 miles, winning the Great South Run in 46:25 to become the third fastest Briton in spite of strong winds.^[19]

Farah was one of the favourites to upset Serhiy Lebid's dominance at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships.^[20] However, Lebid was never in contention as Farah and Alemayehu Bezabeh were some distance ahead throughout. Farah was overtaken by Bezabeh in the latter stages of the race, leaving the Briton with a second consecutive silver medal at the competition.^[21] He did not manage to attend the medal ceremony, however, as he collapsed immediately after the race and needed medical attention.^[22] After a close third place behind Edwin Soi at the BOclassic,^[23] he competed in the short course race at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country. He was the favourite to win and surged ahead to build a comfortable lead. However, he appeared tired in the latter stages and finished third behind British runners Ricky Stevenson and Steve Vernon. Farah again required post-race medical attention and subsequent tests revealed he had low levels of iron and magnesium. He was prescribed supplements for the condition and his high altitude training plans in Kenya were unaffected.^[24]

Farah celebrating his 2010 European Championships 10,000 metres gold medal

He won the 2010 London 10,000 in late May with a British road record time of 27:44, beating 10K world record holder Micah Kogo in the process.^[25] His success continued the following week at the European Cup 10,000 m as he improved his track best by nearly 16 seconds, finishing in 27:28.86. He won by a margin of over forty seconds ahead of second placed Abdellatif Meftah.^[26] After training in Africa, he returned to Europe for the 2010 European Athletics Championships. He took the 10,000 metres gold medal, overtaking Ayad Lamdassem with two laps to go and finishing the race unpressured in a time of 28:24.99. This was Farah's first major title and also the first European gold medal in the event for Great Britain.^[27] He then went on to win the 5000 m from Jesus Espana, becoming only the fifth man in the 66-year history of the European Championships to achieve the 5000 m/10,000 m double, and the first for 20 years, following in the footsteps of the Czech Emil Zatopek in 1950, Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak of Poland in 1958, Finland’s Juha Vaatainen in 1971 and Salvatore Antibo, of Italy, in 1990.^[5][28]

On 19 August 2010, at a Diamond League meeting in Zurich, Farah ran 5000 m in 12:57.94, breaking David Moorcroft's long-standing British record and becoming the first ever British athlete to run under 13 minutes.^[29] In December 2010, Farah was named the track-and-field athlete of the year for 2010 by the British Olympic Association.^[30] He closed the year at the BOclassic and just missed out on the 10K title, losing out to Imane Merga in a sprint finish by 0.2 seconds.^[31]

2011: European and British records, and world medals[link]

2011 proved to be a highly successful year for Farah, beginning on 8 January at the Edinburgh Cross Country, where he defeated the top four finishers of that year's European Championships to take victory in the long race.^[32]

In February 2011, Farah announced that he would be relocating to Portland, Oregon, USA, to work with new coach Alberto Salazar. On 19 February 2011 in Birmingham, England, he broke the European 5000 m indoor record with a time of 13:10.60, at the same time taking ten seconds off the 29-year-old British indoor record of Nick Rose.^[33]

On 5 March 2011, he won gold in the 3000 metres at the European Indoor Championships.

On 20 March 2011 he won the NYC Half Marathon in a time of 1:00:23, a new British record.^[34][35] He and training partner Galen Rupp had originally planned on running a 10,000 m race in New Zealand, but after it was canceled due to an earthquake and damage done to the track, they entered the half-marathon in New York.

On 3 June 2011, at a Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, USA, Farah won the Prefontaine Classic 10,000 m in 26:46.57, setting a new British and European record.^[36]

On 22 July 2011, at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco, he set a new British national record in the 5000 m with a time of 12:53.11.^[37] He edged out American Bernard Lagat to win.^[37]

In the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, in Daegu, South Korea, Farah made a major breakthrough on the world stage by taking the silver medal in the 10,000 m and then the gold in the 5000 m.^[38] He became the first British man to win a global title over either distance.^[39] Farah had in fact been more strongly fancied to take the 10,000 m title, but was narrowly beaten in a last lap sprint by Ethiopian Ibrahim Jeilan. In the 5000 m he overcame Bernard Lagat, perhaps his major rival, beating him into second place. Following the race, Dave Moorcroft, former 5000 metres world record holder, hailed Farah as "the greatest male distance runner that Britain has ever seen".^[40]

Personal life[link]

In April 2010 Farah married his longtime partner Tania Nell, in Richmond, London. Other athletes at the wedding included Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram, Hayley Yelling, Jo Pavey, and Swedish steeplechaser Mustafa Mohamed.^[41] He has a six year-old step-daughter, Rihanna.^[42] He is a fan of Arsenal Football Club.^[43]

Achievements[link]

Personal bests[link]

+ intermediate split in longer race

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• IAAF profile for Mohamed Farah
• Guardian article by Steve Cram
• Mo Farah's Rising Star profile on spikesmag.com
• In-depth article from Independent