The wait for the first British gold medallist at the World Athletics Championship continues. Jessica Ennis missing out today after Mo Farah's near miss in Sunday's 10,000 metres.
Whilst Ennis was expected to come away with the top prize, Farah's success has been the highlight for British athletics in Daegu thus far.
The fact that Farah himself viewed that silver medal as a disappointment says a lot about how Britain's best distance runner positions himself in comparison to the African elite. The Somalian-born Brit now believes he should be winning world titles and he will get another chance in the 5k later in the week.
Farah's progress has been staggering. I had the chance to meet up with the 28 year old in his new base of Portland, Oregon earlier this year and Farah was his usual easygoing, cheerful and friendly self. There was no expectancy upon his shoulders (despite victory in the New York half marathon) but nine races and nine wins later, he has become a firm favourite for Olympic medals next year.
That is down to his new training base, new regime, and most importantly, new coach. Alberto Salazar, himself a three-time winner of the New York marathon, has moulded Farah from raw talent into true contender. A diet of 120 miles a week, combined with constant technique tweaking and even some weird science in an underwater treadmill, have seen Farah take 45 seconds off his 10,000 metres personal best. The British record has become his too.
Farah's disappointment with silver shows his mentality for winning now. But you wouldn't bet against him becoming Britain's golden boy in London next year.
