Moh golden in Tokyo
Moh Ahmed is the last person anyone would consider cocky and arrogant.
But in an interview with BP Sports Niagara prior to departing for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, the 30-year-old former St. Catharines resident made it clear what his intentions were on the world’s biggest stage.
“My goals and my intentions are to go for gold and that is what I have been gearing up for a long, long, time,” the three-time St. Catharines Athlete of the Year said. “I feel like I am one of the players to do that and I am in the medal hunt, for sure, in both events.”
The St. Catharines Collegiate grad started his third Olympics with a sixth place in the 10,000 metres before striking silver Friday morning in the 5,000 metre, a race he finished fourth in at the 2016 Olympics.
The 2019 world bronze medalist’s time of 12:58.61 place him second to Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder.
In a post-race interview with the CBC, the former University of Wisconsin scholarship runner expressed relief with his performance.
“It has been five years of agony, highs, lows, just building myself up and holding on for dear life for a lot of moments, especially this last year and a half,” the Niagara Olympic Club member told the CBC. “To come back here, especially after the disappointment in the 10,000 metres and to kind of go over again exactly what I went though in Rio; having a disappointing 10K and trying to regather myself for the five. It was tough man.”
In talking with his brother, Ahmed expressed disappointment he was going through the same thing again.
“I envisioned it a lot different,” he said. “To go through it again and come out with a medal, it tells me that I am tough and that I can keep taking these tough, tough battles, still scoring and still performing to the highest level,” he said.
Ahmed told the CBC interviewer that he thought the race was going to be pretty slow and he had planned to push the pace and try and punish people.
“The Ugandans went out to the front and really played team tactics and almost came away with two medals. I just, on the fly, kind of came up with a new idea, a new strategy,” he said. “It was hold on, stay smooth and little cues.”
He expressed joy after the victory.
“To come out here five years after waiting for this, I am delighted and elated.”
Ahmed’s victory was greeted by joy from his friends, family, coaches and fans across from Niagara. He is always gracious with his time in Niagara and has appeared at several local cross county meets to help out with the meets and talk to young runners.
Especially thrilled with Friday’s victory was Bernadette and Joe Miszk. They became fans for life after he gave their daughter, Julianne, his 2016 Olympic jacket in October of 2017.
“His friend and former coach Alex Acs brought him to meet Julianne,” Joe said. “Mo heard of Julianne’s accomplishments and how she continued to run and compete while battling cancer. He actually came to visit her again.
“He is an amazing person. We are just overjoyed for him.”
Julianne passed away in July 2020.
Before Tokyo, Ahmed felt his past Olympic experiences would help him in 2021.
“I know what it is like and I’ve been there and done it. The one thing for me is that I have been looking forward to performing at the highest level and being on the podium. That is what I celebrate and I am excited about.”
Like every Olympian, the Bowerman Track Club member’s chance to prove it at the Olympics was delayed one year by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last year our coach did a good job of keeping us accountable and keeping us on track to train,” he said before Tokyo. “Obviously we were fortunate enough to have some races as well. COVID didn’t change anything aside from just the waiting. I was gearing up for it and I felt ready and so excited to compete but then the rug was pulled out from under our feet and then it was another wait. The waiting was the hardest part for me but training was consistent, solid and I feel like I am ready.”
