‘Haven’t you run before?’ American journalist asks perplexed Mo Farah

• Farah grinned and said he had competed in half-marathons previously but this was his first appearance in New Orleans.

Los Angeles

Double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah appeared perplexed but kept his poise after being asked by a New Orleans television presenter if he had ever run before.

Britain’s Farah, the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metre champ in the 2012 Summer Olympics, won the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon in record time which earned him a live interview with local WSDU television reporter LaTonya Norton.

“Now haven’t you run before?” asked Norton, who also confused the half-marathon with the marathon. “Haven’t you run before? This isn’t your first time.”

Farah grinned and said he had competed in half-marathons previously but this was his first appearance in New Orleans.

The good-natured Somali-born Farah modestly made no mention in the Sunday interview — which provoked a spate of internet chatter — of his London gold medal heroics.

Farah won the race in a British national record time of 61 minutes, also a record for the course. Farah recently announced he would run just half of this year’s London Marathon before attempting the full course in 2014.

His coach Alberto Salazar has said he believes Farah could compete in the marathon at the 2016 Games in Rio.

Elsewhere, Some 10 defending champions will gather in Gothenburg as the port city hosts the 32nd European Indoor Championships – which takes place from March 1-3 – for the third time.

On the last occasion the prestigious event visited Sweden’s second city – some 29 years ago – the host nation failed to secure a medal. Yet hopes are high that disappointing statistic is not repeated with Abeba Aregawi bearing the burden of expectation.

The Ethiopian-born Swede has made only one solitary outing this winter but showed blistering form, running the second-fastest women’s indoor 1500m in history with a stunning 3:58.40. AFP