Farah keeping faith on training

Mo Farah's decision to forgo home comforts transformed him from European to world champion and the popular Briton is banking on the gruelling training regime that got him there to propel him to the ultimate glory of Olympic gold.

The 29-year-old heads to next month's London Games from his American base in Portland, Oregon as favourite for the 10,000 metres title and a leading contender for the 5,000 if he decides to run in both events.

aContender status signals some journey for Farah, whose rise began in 2006 with 5000M European silver, stuttered with Olympic and world championship failures, and took off with major titles which have boosted his popularity at home and abroad and made his famous grin a potential image of the London Games.

Until European gold in the 5000 and 10,000 metres in 2010 Farah said he had doubted he had what it took to win big races, but having tasted success, the man who moved to England from Mogadishu, Somalia at the age of eight, knew he wanted more.

Just under seven months after his European triumphs, Farah parted with coach Alan Storey and swapped runs through west London's leafy parks for a quieter, media-free environment in Oregon and a new trainer in three-times New York marathon winner Alberto Salazar.

Salazar's arrival brought newfound confidence to the softly-spoken Farah, whose polite and meek demeanour is now reserved for everything except the track and ferocious assaults on his sport's most coveted titles.

Success came in South Korea in 2011, although not first without heartbreak as Farah was forced to settle for silver in the 10000M.

The race had audiences captivated as Farah looked set for gold after breaking clear of the field. Instead, he crossed the line distraught, his eyes bulging with pain when he realised that Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan was about to overhaul him with the final stride.

That despair was replaced by joy days later when Farah became the first British man to win the 5000M world title, cementing his place among his sport's long-distance elite.

Farah's rise has been about training and little else.

The Arsenal fan's big word is focus and in leaving the spotlight of home he has been able to get to grips with a regime that includes high-tech innovations like an underwater treadmill and a freezing cold chamber aimed at longer sessions and quicker recovery times.