European Championships: Veteran Brit Jo Pavey strikes gold in 10,000 metres
Last Updated: 13/08/14 5:35pm
Jo Pavey has won gold for Great Britain in the women's 10,000 metres at the European Championships in Zurich.
Pavey, a 40-year-old mother of two, rolled back the years to become the oldest ever female European champion.
Just 10 days ago, the four-time Olympian produced one of the performances of the Commonwealth Games to secure bronze in the 5,000m.
Pavey, who turns 41 next month, returned to the track at the Stadion Letzigrund on the opening night of the European Championships and went one better than her silver medal from Helsinki two years ago.
Showing no signs of fatigue, she stuck with a breakaway pack and took the lead with a lap to go.
It had looked like Clemence Calvin may catch the Briton, but she kicked on down the home straight to take gold and replace Irina Khabarova - part of Russia's triumphant 4x100m relay team in 2006 at the age of 40 years and 27 days - as the oldest ever female European gold medallist.
"I just can't believe it," she told Press Association Sport after crossing the line in 32 minutes 22.39 seconds. "I didn't know how well I would be able to recover from the Commonwealths.
"I hoped the 5k at the Commonwealths would be a good sharpener for this as well, but I couldn't be confident going in because it did feel quite a long way. 10,000 is always a long way and at the end of the race you feel quite tired.
"I was trying to tell myself 'everyone is probably feeling tired' so I just dug deep. I am really thrilled. I can't believe it. I am so happy."
