Sprint sensation

By Michael Johnson 200m world record holder and BBC pundit

Francis Obikwelu put together the total race to win European 200m gold.

He knew he had the opportunity to double up after his 100m success, but he also wanted to send a message out to the other athletes around the world who have been running very well over 200m.

Over the first 100m, he pushed out all alone. Sweden's Johan Wissman on his inside did not get the good start he usually does. Britain's Marlon Devonish did, but Obikwelu was gone.

Obikwelu became the first man since Pietro Mennea to win both sprints at the same Europeans

With 80 metres to go, he had already opened up a four- or five-metre gap on the rest of the field - he was just striding away.

Coming down the home straight, he gave the perfect demonstration of keeping his technique together and really using that combination of strength and power that he has.

I'm delighted for him. Obikwelu is a nice guy and always has been. He's always got along with the guys on the circuit and is a good athlete as well.

With the field and level of talent in both sprints not being that great, he has risen to the challenge and posted great times.

As for Devonish, he got a good start and had perfect execution round the corner, using the athlete to his outside to get ahead of Wissman.

But then speed endurance came into play and Wissman was able to come back to him.

I felt all along that if Marlon could run 20.50 seconds then he could get a medal.

The positive is that he executed his races well consistently throughout each round.

But we saw him lose ground to Wissman and those behind him here, so he needs to improve that.

He needs 20.30secs to get into the final at the World Championships next summer.

But his bronze medal here is something he can build on and use to make those improvements for next season.

Michael Johnson was talking on BBC Television.