Original version

BBC World Service Online

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Olympics: Zamzam Farah at London 2012

Documentaries

Olympics: Zamzam Farah at London 2012

24/07/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Olympics: Zamzam Farah at London 2012

Somalia sprinter Zamzam Farah at the London 2012 Olympics

Zamzam Farah trained on the ‘Road of Death’ for the London 2012 Olympics, while dodging violence in Somalia from Al-Shabab.

At the London 2012 Olympics, the Somali sprinter Zamzam Farah became a crowd favourite after finishing last in her 400m heat by 27 seconds. 

Zamzam had grown up in war-torn Mogadishu, where she had to dodge violence while training on the so-called ‘Road of Death’. 

She 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 gained asylum. 

Zamzam Farah spoke to Ian Williams in 2021.

(Photo: Zamzam Farah about to start the 400m at the London 2012 Olympics. Credit: Olivier Morin/AFP/GettyImages)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Olympics: Zamzam Farah at London 2012

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service