Family thrilled with Ahmed's Olympic experience

''The two Olympians (Mo Farah  & Mohammed Ahmed) roots are originally from the city of Hargeisa in Somaliland''

- ST. CATHARINES - Just being in the presence of Olympic greatness was an accomplishment, said Kadar Ahmed, brother of St. Catharines Olympian Mohammed Ahmed. Said mother

“This is a great experience,” agreed his cousin, Gulid Jama.

“He is racing with his idols.”

Even before the start of the men’s 10,000-metre race Saturday afternoon, Mohammed Ahmed — who at 21 was among the youngest runners in the field — was a winner, said another cousin who had gathered with family to watch the event.

“He has gained so much, he has already won,” said Mahad Jama.

The post-race embrace between gold-medal winner Mohammed Farah, of Great Britain, and their brother prompted an outpouring of appreciative laughter from Ahmed’s family, who had gathered to watch the race in their central St. Catharines home.

The two Olympians’ roots are originally from the city of Hargeisa in Somalia, said Mohammed Ahmed’s mother, Halimo Farah, who shares the same last name as the gold medal winner. But she says any family connection would be distant: “We are from the same tribe.”

The family was equally supportive of Canada’s Cameron Levins, who finished 11th with a time of 27:40:68.

“We know this guy,” said Halimo Farah. “My son and him are close friends.”

Overall, it was a slow race. Mohammed Ahmed’s 18th place finish, with a time of 28:13:91, was not even a personal best, said his brother Kadar Ahmed. Farah’s winning time was 27:30.42.

“But we are always proud of him, and it was a great accomplishment for him even getting there,” said Kadar.

About halfway through the race, when it became clear Mohammed Ahmed would not be able to finish with the front of the pack, his family’s attention turned to the battle for first.

But their support for Farah was not just because he was someone who shared the same background.

“It is not only for Mo. We are happy for anybody who works hard,” said his aunt, Fatima Nur.

And their pride in their own family member is not just because he’s a great athlete.

Mohammed Ahmed “is a good example,” said Nur.

“He’s a good role model,” agreed Mahad Jama. “He works so hard, and he’s so humble.”

Kadar said his brother called home about an hour after the race.

“He said he’s very happy with the race and the result. He wanted to let us know he wasn’t disappointed with the result,” Kadar said.

He said Mohammed spoke with his father, Said Yusuf, and with little brother Hamza, who is 13.

“He told my little brother he might come visit us” before he heads back to the University of Wisconsin to continue his studies and his training.

“We are happy for him,” Kadar said. “This was a good experience for him and for us, and we are awaiting his return (to the Olympics) in 2016.”

By Marlene Bergsma, The Standard