DOUBLE gold medal winning athlete Mo Farah swapped his Mobot for a Mo-boat as he surprised participants at a rowing event.
The hero of Team GB’s Olympic squad may be one of the most in-demand figures in sport, but he still found time to return to his home borough at the weekend.
He turned up at Barnes Bridge Ladies Rowing Club, which despite its name actually trains on the Chiswick side of the river close to Duke’s Meadow, on Sunday (19) as part of the national Join in Weekend.
Launched on the back of the 2012 London Games to ensure a sporting legacy, the campaign saw 5,000 events held around the country.
Sporting icons Daley Thompson, Sharron Davies and Jonathan Edwards were also present; their arrival having been expected in advance thanks to having been touring in a custom themed Battle Bus visiting sports clubs along the way to encourage them to support the campaign.
They came to back an open day for female rowers inspired by Team GB’s very own gold rush ladies, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.
Golden Mo, who came to Hounslow borough from Somalia aged eight and attended three local schools, was accompanied by his daughter Rihanna.
Together they helped the people taking part to ready their boats, including helping the other three celebrities into an 8-man canoe.
However, slalom canoeist David Florence found it a little tougher to tempt a reluctant Mo into his two-man canoe.
His refusal to take to the water himself - he famously cannot swim - aside; the first ever British holder of both the 5,000 and 10,000m titles had nothing but praise for the event.
He said: “I’ve had so much fun with everyone that came to Join In with the Barnes Bridge Rowing club.
“I’ve never been in a canoe before, but give it a few more years and maybe I’ll attempt to qualify.
“For now I’m definitely more comfortable on dry land though. The reception and support I’ve had since the Olympics has been unbelievable.
“However, it is not just about me. There are so many people who have been instrumental in helping me get to where I am.
“The Join In weekend is all about carrying on the volunteering spirit we’ve seen at the Games and encouraging more people to get involved, so clubs like this one can continue to get people involved insport and maybe even create the next Olympic champions.”
The Join In weekend was designed to help capture the spirit of the Games and bring it back to the place it begins for all great champions - their local sports facilities.
Enabling clubs to convert this once in a lifetime wave of interest into help, support and membership from their local community.
Over the last three months over 5,000 events have signed up representing every nation and region in the UK, and covering more than three dozen sports, from athletics to swimming, to canoeing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey and karate.
