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Farah named European athlete of the year

Mo Farah kisses his gold medal © PA Photos

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Mo Farah has been named European Athlete of the Year, with Team GB's other world champion Dai Greene coming third in the voting for the men's award.

Farah claimed the prize primarily for his impressive victory in the 5,000m at the World Championships in Daegu, after taking silver in agonising fashion in the 10,000m earlier in the week. But the 28-year-old achieved many other landmarks in 2011 - starting by setting a European 5000m indoor record in February, before defending his 3,000m indoor title at the European Athletics Championships the next month.

He also set a new European record in the 10,000m during the course of his victory at the Diamond League meeting in Oregon in June, before running the second fastest 5,000m by a European in history in Monaco in July - vindicating his decision to begin working with coach Alberto Salazar in the United States.

Greene also had a stellar year, with his gold medal in the 400m hurdles in Daegu adding to his European and Commonwealth successes in 2010 and only underlining his status as the best athlete in a competitive event after an otherwise solid - if unspectacular - season.

He and Farah were separated by second-placed Christoph Lemaitre, the French sprinter who made the final of the 100m at the world championships and finished third in the 200m behind Usain Bolt.

Lemaitre won the award last year, although Greene - perhaps tongue-in-cheek - could not believe that he warranted the runner-up finish this time around.

"Just found out I finished 3rd in the European Athlete of the Year Award," Greene said on Twitter. "Not too bad, don't know why Lemaitre was second though??"

The women's award was won by Russian Mariya Savinova - the world champion 800m runner who lost just once during her 10 appearances this year. Improving hurdler Tiffany Porter - who reached the final of the 100m hurdles at the World Championships - was the highest finishing Brit in the voting, placing 10th.

There was further success for Team GB athletes in the rising star category, with emerging sprinter Jodie Williams winning the female award.

Williams claimed both the 100m and 200m European junior titles in 2011, before narrowly missing out on a senior medal in the European indoors over 60m.

German shot putter David Storl, who surprisingly won gold in Daegu, won the men's rising star prize - also finishing fourth in the overall men's standings.

The awards, organised by European Athletics, were decided based on votes from fans, the media and various experts based on a shortlist drawn up by the governing body.

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