• European Athletics Championships

Farah predicts more British glory

Mo Farah won gold in the men's 10,000m ahead of team-mate Chris Thompson © Getty Images

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Mo Farah believes his European gold medal is the start of great things for British distance running.

Farah won gold in the men's 10,000m on Tuesday night, with team-mate Chris Thompson taking silver. It was Britain's first medal at the championships in Barcelona, and more notably, Britain's first ever medal in the event.

Farah now turns his focus to the 5000m, where he will attempt an impressive double in Barcelona, before concentrating on the world stage, and then the Olympics.

"It's not over yet, we have the 5k so I have to try to stay relaxed and focused, even though there's been a lot of stuff going on," Farah said.

The Somalian-born athlete claims British distance running is at its best state in years, and even believes it can return to the glory days of Brendan Foster, Seb Coe, and Steve Ovett.

"If you look back at the likes of Brendan Foster, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram, all those guys were winning Olympics and setting world records," Farah said. "The first time a lot of people watched athletics was Seb Coe breaking the world record and it was on ITV and athletics was really, really big. It has died down a bit but it depends on what comes through.

"I think this is our time now in athletics, me, Chris (Thompson), Michael Rimmer, Jenny Meadows coming through. I believe we can be as good as what we were back in the day.

"People can look at me and Chris finishing first and second and say 'We can do it'. You want to do what you see on TV. 2012 is only round the corner and if we can build on this at the World Championships next year, then from there who knows?

"Alright, I've won the Europeans, but I've got to forget that and mix it with the guys in the Worlds and Olympics."

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