Almgren exuded confidence when he faced the press the day before the 10,000-metre final. He knew what he was talking about.
The 31-year-old took the lead after just three laps and then he roasted all opposition.
"I felt it shouldn't be about who was lucky with the position this year. I wanted it to be a fitness test: who is the best runner?" Almgren says afterwards.
Cracked everyone
After the halfway point in the race, only four men were keeping up with Almgren's pace, and on the seventh kilometre he broke everyone who tried to keep up.
I didn't really plan on going so early, but the first kilometre was so incredibly slow, he says.
It was just feeding. You can see how they drip off and it gives extra energy. But I can't say I enjoyed the last three laps.
“Should be impossible”
He then ran solo for nearly three kilometres towards a title victory.
What the guy is doing today, it should be impossible. To go so early without help, I was afraid he would get carried away. But they were grilled, absolutely crazy, says Urban Aruhn, Almgren's coach to SVT.
Almgren finished in 27.23.50 and erased Finnish Martti Vainio's championship record from 1978.
"I felt like I was in the best shape of my life, that I shouldn't leave it to chance. And I didn't," says Almgren.
The silver went to Swiss Dominic Lobalu, beaten by 19 seconds by Almgren, and third was reigning world champion Jimmy Gressier from France, beaten by 40 seconds by the superb Almgren.
