European Athletics Championships: Mo Farah wins 5,000m to complete distance double
Last Updated: 17/08/14 5:03pm
Mo Farah replicated his Olympic Games and World Championships heroics by winning the men’s 5,000 metres to complete a long-distance double at the European Championships.
The British runner took gold in the 10,000m on Wednesday and followed that up with another triumph on Sunday, crossing the line first in 14 minutes 5.82 seconds.
It is the third straight year Farah has won the two races at a major championships, doing so memorably at London 2012 and at the worlds in Moscow 12 months later.
Farah’s achievements in Zurich have remedied what had previously been a difficult year for the 31-year-old.
History's very important to me and I always hope to make my country proud.
Mo Farah
He was disappointed by his display at the London Marathon and frustrated further when illness forced him to miss the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
But six weeks on from a health scare which involved him being airlifted to hospital after collapsing, he was back in typically prolific medal-winning form.
He kicked away just after the bell to beat Hayle Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan to the line in the 5,000m, with another Brit, Andy Vernon, taking bronze.
Vernon’s medal took Britain’s overall haul to 20 - breaking their previous European Championships record of 19 set in Barcelona four years ago. They would eventually finish with 23 overall and 12 golds, also a record.
Farah said: "It was amazing to have my family here and to have my kids on the track with me, kissing me and saying, 'daddy won'," Farah said.
"It's the first time my young twins have properly watched me race so it's great. History's very important to me and I always hope to make my country proud.
"There's been some down times but two golds here is great and now I hope to get ready to face the big guys next year at the IAAF World Championships.
"What I've achieved over the years means that the rest of the field let me do my thing. The race went well, I went to the front so it was good. My distance double's great for my country and thanks to everyone's support over the years."
