Farah Flies in Helsinki 5k

Mo Farah retained his 5,000m European Championships title with a comfortable victory in Helsinki.

Farah, who took gold over the same distance at last year's World Championships, won in a time of 13 minutes 29.91 seconds.

Farah had chosen Helsinki over the 5,000m at the Olympic trials as he prepares for London, where the 29-year-old will seek his first Olympic medal.

Germany's Arne Gabiuis finished second in 13:31.83.

Turkey's Polat Kemboi Arikan took the bronze medal in 13:32.63.

Farah was happy to settle in the pack in the opening stages of the race before challenging Arikan at 3,000m. He led for the remainder of the race, easily accelerating away from his nearest challengers in a sub-54 second final lap.

The Briton, who had been accused of being "disrespectful" to his fellow competitors in the 1500m heats at last weekend's trials for celebrating 100m from the line and then choosing not to run the following day's final, was keen to stress that his race choices were made with his Olympic chances in mind.

"I got a little bit of stick for it but I didn't intend to disrespect anyone," Farah said after his Helsinki win. "Sometimes you get carried away and do a celebration.

"I didn't do the 1500m final but it was just to save my legs and to come out here and get a good race and see where I am.

"I apologise to everyone who bought tickets [for the day of the final] but this medal means more to me than doing the final and getting a medal there."