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Sporting Witness, Sporting Witness, Zamzam Farah - Somalia's inspiring runner

Sporting Witness

Sporting Witness

Zamzam Farah - Somalia's inspiring runner

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July 29, 2021

9 minutes

Available for over a year

At the London 2012 Olympics, Somalia sprinter Zamzam Farah became a crowd favourite after finishing last in her 400-metre heat by a whopping 27 seconds. Zamzam had grown up in war-torn Mogadishu, where she had to dodge violence from the militant Al-Shabab group while training on the so-called "Road of Death". Zamzam competed with her body fully covered, but, after the Olympics, her family in Somalia received death threats because of what Al-Shabab considered unacceptable behaviour for a Muslim woman. She remained in the UK and won asylum. Zamzam Farah talks to Ian Williams.

PHOTO: Zamzam Farah competing at the 2012 Olympics (Getty Images)