Mo Farah changes coach to assist Olympic preparation

Farah aims to break 5,000m record

Britain's double European champion Mo Farah will move to the United States in a bid to enhance his Olympic ambitions.

The Somalia-born 27-year-old, who won the 5,000 and 10,000m in last year's European Championships, is also parting company with coach Alan Storey.

His new location is Oregon where he will work with Alberto Salazar, who won three successive New York marathons.

"I don't want to change too much yet but I think he will introduce me to a lot of different things," said Farah.

Farah will continue to train at altitude in Kenya and Font Romeu in France - where Paula Radcliffe also trains - and insists he is not taking a major gamble with the London Olympics only 17 months away.

Alberto is someone who I have always seen as a great coach and looked up to Mo Farah

"It's not a risk," he added. "It's about as an athlete how much do you want it? Do I want a medal or do I want to be thinking back 'That was a great opportunity, should I have taken it?'

"I thought about it last year and the year before that but things weren't quite right and everything has seemed to come together now. I don't want to regret it thinking 'He could have done that, he could have got me a medal'.

"It is a different culture in America but having a coach full time there to monitor you, that's what I need, someone to guide me. He's not the sort of person to say 'Come to me, I can do this and that', it was my decision."

Regarding his decision to join forces with Salazar, Farah said: "Last year was a great year for me but if I'm ever going to get close to a medal in a world championships or Olympics in 2012 something needed to change a little bit.

"Alberto is someone who I have always seen as a great coach and looked up to.

"He's coached many of the great athletes, he was a great athlete himself. I've met him a couple of times and got on very well with him and I believe he can just make that ½% difference to get close to a medal.

"Alan Storey has helped me so much. I finished sixth and seventh in the World Championships and he's a great coach, but for me to move forward that little bit I believe Alberto can make that difference."