European Athletics (EAA) – News – Ice-cool Greene finally discovers the Midas touch for Britain

David Greene got Great Britain its first gold medal of the 2011 IAAF World Championships when the 2010 European Athletics Championships 400m hurdles gold medallist sped over the barriers in Daegu to win in 48.26 on Thursday.

Greene ran a perfectly paced race. He was second coming off the last barrier but overhauled Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson, who finished second in 48.44, in the final metres in the race for the line.

“I am just overwhelmed. I cannot believe it has happened to me. I am so happy about this victory,” said the delighted Greene, who made up for some slight disappointments for Britain earlier in the Championships when Mo Farah had to settle for silver in the 10,000m and Jessica Ennis failed to defend her heptathlon title.

“Now I am number one in the world. I was disappointed about my first half of the race but never mind, this is no longer important. I have had a great year so far. I put everything together tonight. You think I am very cool, ice cold? Well, thank you very much,” he joked with trackside interviewers.

"Coming off the last hurdle I had so much momentum. I just thought, 'I can't let this go, this is mine.' I'm really relieved and really proud."

Greene held his nerve after two aborted starts, the athletes having been called back to their blocks after a first faulty start and then told to stand up again before the race got under way.

“I saw Hannah England's performance (the British silver medallist in the 1500m) and saw her running around with the flag, and thought I had to get a piece of that action.

Greene now has nearly a full set of World, European and Commonwealth 400m titles to his name, with the Olympic Games to come next year on home soil in London.

"I've been working so hard for this for a number of years. I always believed I could make it but I had to dig deep to pull it out. I do get a bit nervous but I seem to be able to handle it better than the rest.”

Greene is the first European athlete to win the men’s 400m hurdles title since Italy’s Fabrizio Mori triumphed in 1999.

He is based in Bath and coached by the hurdles guru Malcolm Arnold who also guided Colin Jackson to 110m world titles in 1993 and 1999. On the former occasion, Jackson ran what was then a world record of 12.91, which remains the European record.

European Athletics (EAA) – News