Almgren took historic EC gold in the 10,000 meters

Almgren had a bunch of lapped runners on his heels in the race and could smile off the pace and just enjoy after the first Swedish European Championship title in 10,000 meters which took him 27.23.44 and the runner-up hadn't even entered the race.

- It was terrible. What the guy is doing today must be impossible. The plan was for him to go after 13 laps (5,200 meters). Championship record after the first kilometer of 3.16 is absolutely crazy. They were grilled, says coach Urban Aruhn, who was speechless with excitement.

After a walk at the start of the race, Almgren took the lead after 1,200 meters and grilled the field with a fast steady pace, a very fast pace.

- I set a European record speed today. If someone were to beat me, they would have to suffer and I myself had to suffer the last four laps, felt like my legs disappeared, says Almgren, who celebrated with the silver medalist in the 1,500 meters Samuel Pihlström.

- The fastest I ran today was from 200 meters to meet Samuel, almost so that I was happier than when I ran to the finish line myself, says a hoarse Almgren about his roommate.

"Among the most cruel things I've seen"

- He was too strong for the rest of us and he had a good tactic because I had already run 5,000 meters, says last year's world champion Jimmy Gressier, who took the bronze.

Just before seven kilometers, Almgren got a small gap and just continued to drill at the front.

- It is absolutely fantastic. It's among the cruelest things I've seen - just running away from the others. What kind of shape is he in? It is an outclassing of a rarely seen kind. It could have been a suicide tactic, exclaimed SVT commentator Jacob Hård at the push that gave a kilometer in 2.34.

- Had any runner in the whole world hung out with Almgren today? Hård asks himself.