Joined athletics greats such as Zatopek, Kuts, Viren and Bekele as winner of the Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres double in London. He thrilled the home crowd with powerful finishes over the last lap to become the first Briton to win gold medals over both distances.
In 2012 he also became the first man to defend his European Championship 5,000 metres title in Helsinki. He was voted European Athlete of the Year for the second straight time. Born in Somalia, his family moved to Britain when he was eight.
