Mohammad Farah retained his title in 5000m race at the European championship with a mind blowing performance in Helsinki, Finland. Somali born British ‘International track and field’ athlete Mo Farah has made history this time. It was not until half an hour after his race that Farah learned he had become the first man in the 78-year history of the European Championships to defend his 5000m title. Not even the great Vladimir Kuts or Emil Zatopak could manage that. On the track, he generally competes over 5000m and 10000m, but also runs the 3000m and occasionally the 1500m as well. In July 2010, Farah won Britain’s first-ever men’s European gold medal at 10000m. He followed this with gold in 5000m, becoming the 5th male athlete to complete the long-distance double at the championships and the first British man to do so. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, he won silver in the 10,000m and gold in the 5000m. He is now the first man in history to successfully defend a European 5,000m title, but this race was simply another stepping stone, he and his coach Alberto Salazar, are trying to strengthen his kick-finish, mindful there are far harder races to come which he really wants to win at the Summer Olympics 2012. He has expressed a desire to move up to the marathon after the 2012 Olympics. In May 2008, Farah ran 10000m events, claiming the fastest UK men’s time for almost eight years. However, he suffered disappointment at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, being knocked out before the final in the 5000m event. Mo Farah will compete with the renowned Jessica Ennis, Phillips Idowu, Dai Greene and Christine Ohuruogu this summer to get GB Gold medal.
