British medal haul due to 'hard work'

Great Britain's record-breaking haul of 19 medals at last week's European Championships in Barcelona is simply down to "hard work", according to the head coach of UK Athletics.

Asked on Radio Five's Sportsweek what the secret to the British side's success was, Charles van Commenee concluded: "Hard work over many years and now it flourishes. It's not more than that."

Among the British medallists were Mo Farah, who won two track golds, and Jessica Ennis, who triumphed in the heptathlon, as Britain surpassed the total of 18 medals from Split in 1990.

Van Commenee also dispelled claims he is overly aggressive in his coaching. "When you're working 52 weeks a year with 100 people, and all these people are different, you have to speak different languages," he continued. "You have to be empathetic and understanding."