Lagat eyes Farah duel

Lagat (l): Will aim to beat Farah this summer

Bernard Lagat is backing Mo Farah to win at least one gold medal at the Olympics but has vowed to push him all the way in the 5,000 metres this summer.

The experienced American was forced to settle for silver over the same distance at last year's World Championships in Daegu as Farah bounced back from his heartbreak in the 10,000m a week earlier - when he agonisingly missed out in a sprint finish against Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan - to claim a memorable victory.

As Britain's first-ever male long-distance world champion, who also won the European double in 2010, the Somalia-born Londoner will now have to handle all the immense pressure of being one of nation's best hopes for track-and-field glory on the biggest stage of all.

But Lagat feels Farah has already proved he has the strength of character to cope with the huge expectations and doesn't think he needs advice from anyone.

He said: "Everybody is going for gold but Mo Farah is strong enough now and he's confident. I think he'll be sure in his mind that he will get that gold. It's a matter of just time.

"He's doing everything right just now in his training and competition, which is so important for an athlete like him.

"To be honest this man doesn't need any advice. After running the 10,000m and losing on the home straight, if he didn't have a strong mind he wouldn't have done well in the 5,000m.

"There was a lot of pressure there. So therefore this is the guy who can stand the pressure and do well under pressure. Few people can do that.

"The only advice I could give is to stay healthy, train well and this can be your year."

Tough

Lagat, who famously won the 1,500m and 5,000m double at the 2007 World Championships, knows how much success would mean to Farah but insists he will be out to stop him as he seeks his first Olympic gold having previously won a silver and bronze in Athens and Sydney respectively when representing Kenya.

He said: "If he goes for the 5,000m he's going to find other guys - besides myself - from Kenya and Ethiopia who will be out for that gold. I for one will try and deny him that chance.

"I tried in Daegu but he was the strongest man. So this year I'm going to have to train hard to deny him at home.

"I wouldn't feel guilty, that's what makes our sport beautiful because we all do our best. I am a human being and I would feel disappointed for him if he didn't win gold - but there's a long way to go and right now everybody has a good chance."

The 37-year-old is as excited about the prospect of competing at another Olympics as he did when making his first Games appearance in Sydney back in 2000 but knows he must work harder than ever if he's to challenge for honours.

Dream

Lagat said: "The excitement is the same as that first Olympics for me. I feel my business is not done yet but if I do win gold in London that would be a dream.

"I need to work extra hard now because these guys are stronger and have fire whereas mine is burning out. But I keep lighting that fire and not let it die completely.

"It's harder when you get older but I'm not going to beat myself up if I lose a race. It's a matter of learning and that's one of my philosophies."

Although this will be his last Games, Lagat feels he has one more season left in him after this year.

He said: "My wife has told me not to overstay my welcome so I won't do that. If I can win at the Olympics then I'm going to have one more season of saying goodbye to everybody in 2013 and that would be great fun."

Before the summer season begins, Lagat is hoping to defend his 3,000m title at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul next month.

He said: "I am going to be defending my title if I qualify at the US Nationals and I really want to do that. The first objective is to make the team and then try to get that gold medal again."