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Farah switches coach to increase gold chances

Mo Farah believes changing coaches at this stage will increase his medal hopes in 2012 © PA Photos

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Great Britain's double European champion Mo Farah has decided to part ways with his coach and move to the United States ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Farah, champion over 5000 and 10000 metres at last year's European Championships, has decided to split from former trainer Alan Storey to work with Alberto Salazar - winner of three New York marathons - in Oregon.

The Somali-born runner believes it will help expand his skills ahead of next year's Games.

"I don't want to change too much yet but I think he will introduce me to a lot of different things," Farah told the BBC. "It's not a risk. It's about as an athlete how much do you want it? Do I want a medal or do I want to be thinking back 'That was a great opportunity, should I have taken it?'

"I thought about it last year and the year before that but things weren't quite right and everything has seemed to come together now. I don't want to regret it thinking 'He could have done that, he could have got me a medal'.

"It is a different culture in America but having a coach full time there to monitor you, that's what I need, someone to guide me. He's not the sort of person to say 'Come to me, I can do this and that', it was my decision."

Having failed to make the final of the 5000 metres in Beijing nearly three years ago, Farah believes the switch will increase his chances at the sport's biggest meetings.

"Last year was a great year for me but if I'm ever going to get close to a medal in a world championships or Olympics in 2012 something needed to change a little bit," he said. "Alberto is someone who I have always seen as a great coach and looked up to. He's coached many of the great athletes, he was a great athlete himself. I've met him a couple of times and got on very well with him and I believe he can just make that 0.5% difference to get close to a medal.

"Alan Storey has helped me so much. I finished sixth and seventh in the World Championships and he's a great coach, but for me to move forward that little bit I believe Alberto can make that difference."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.