PARIS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The 5,000m world champion Mo Farah of Britain and 800m world champion Mariya Savinova of Russia was named European male and female athlete of the year respectively on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Somalia-born Farah, who also won the silver in the 10,000m at the world championships in August, won the award ahead of last year's winner Christophe Lemaitre of France.

Farah will receive his award along with Savinova at the ceremony in Spain on October 15.