The Mobot Was Made in Chiswick

Clare Balding inspires Mo Farah's gold medal dance celebration

Mo Farah's victory celebration, which we have seen now on successive Saturdays, turns out to have been inspired by Chiswick based broadcaster Clare Balding.

The genesis of the move came when Mo, who went to school in Isleworth, was appearing on Sky's comedy sports quiz A League Of Their Own.

Host James Corden pointed out that the long distance runner lacked a move to mark his victories and that he needed one to be more like Usain Bolt.

Clare Balding was quick to suggest that Mo should form a letter M as people do when dancing to the Village People song 'YMCA.'

Mo repeatedly did the move after his first Olympic gold in the 10,000 metres which mystified many until Clare explained on Twitter why he was doing it.

Imitation really was the sincerest form of flattery when Usain Bolt himself did the 'Mobot' after Jamaica's victory in the sprint relay the following Saturday.

The adaption of her idea caps a hugely successful games for Clare in which it has been almost universally agreed that she has done a superb job of presenting them at the BBC.

August 3, 2012