Full-circle moment for Sir Farah is awarded by leading University
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 27.06.25. | 10:25
Other honorees who were celebrated included BBC journalist Clive Myrie, historian Professor Timothy Snyder, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Professor Erwin Neher, and celebrated author Professor Colm Tóibín
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Mo Farah has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of Oxford. The Somali-British long-distance runner joined a select group of global icons recognized during the institution’s prestigious Encaenia ceremony on Wednesday, 25 June.
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The ceremony was held at the historic Sheldonian Theatre, the Encaenia (a Latin word meaning “festival of renewal"). It is an annual celebration where Oxford pays tribute to notable individuals and university benefactors.
For Mo Farah, the award was a deeply personal, full-circle moment.
“What can I say, a dream come true, a boy from Feltham, wow! Feeling very blessed to have received an honorary Oxford University degree yesterday,” Mo Farah shared with his followers on Instagram.
The ceremony’s colorful appeal made it even more special. Mo Farah was dressed in full academic regalia and joined other recipients in a citywide procession before signing the Honorary Degrees Book at the Divinity School.
From there, the group moved to the Sheldonian Theatre, a tradition that has been maintained in some form since 1670.
Adding to the emotion of the day was the presence of his twin daughters, Aisha and Amani, who were born shortly after his London 2012 triumphs.
“Having my twin daughters with me, who were not with us during London 2012, seeing the recognition for my achievements was incredibly special, a moment I could share with them and one they will hopefully remember forever,” he wrote.
His message to others? “Anything is possible,” he posted.
Other honorees who were celebrated included BBC journalist Clive Myrie, historian Professor Timothy Snyder, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Professor Erwin Neher, and celebrated author Professor Colm Tóibín.
The event also marked a milestone for the university itself, as it was the first Encaenia overseen by former UK Conservative Party leader, Lord Hague, who was installed as Oxford’s 160th Chancellor earlier this year.
Born in Somalia and raised in the UK, Mo Farah rose to fame after becoming the first British athlete to run the 5,000m in under 13 minutes in 2010. The following year, he made history again by clinching Britain’s first-ever 5,000m World Championship title.
At the London 2012 Olympics, he etched his name into national memory by winning gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, a feat he repeated at the Rio 2016 Games, making him one of the most decorated distance runners in Olympic history.
Beyond the Olympics, Farah boasts an astonishing track record: six World Championship gold medals, six European titles, and a victorious marathon run in Chicago in 2018.
NEW: Eight exceptional individuals whose achievements have made lasting contributions to the world were recognised today with honorary degrees at Oxford University’s Encaenia. pic.twitter.com/hpdIU0tvLv
— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) June 25, 2025
