Former Olympic 1500m champion Fermin Cacho of Spain. (Picture Alliance File)

Spain's Fermín Cacho became Olympic 1500m champion at the Barcelona Olympic Games back in 1992. 18 years later, the finest European specialists for the distance will gather on Friday at 22:00 on the same track – albeit its colour has changed from red to blue – with an eagerly awaited British-Spanish showdown on the cards.

In an exclusive interview with the European Athletics website Cacho, who is one of the ambassadors of this 20th European Athletics Championships, reflected on the men’s 1500m final. Cacho, 41 years of age, bagged the European title at Helsinki 1994 in a championship record of 3:35.27, which still stands.

Q) Fermín, how would you assess the men’s 1500 semi-finals held on Wednesday?

A) Well, I think everything was according to the expected as all the main medal contenders advanced to the final so easily. Now it’s time for recovery thinking on Friday’s night final.

Q) The three Britons, Andy Baddeley, Tom Lancashire and Colin McCourt, plus the Spanish triumvirate of Reyes Estévez, Manuel Olmedo and Arturo Casado seem to be head and shoulders above the rest, what’s your forecast for the final?

A) Yes, it’s true, they should take the three medals at stake. Although the British athletes are strong and have run slightly faster than the Spaniards this season I believe times are negligible at a championships and what counts most is your ability as a tactician; a real champion performs well when it really matters and there are medals at stake.

Q) What do you could be a winning time in Barcelona?

A) I guess it will be a slow race in the early stages, in the 3:40-3:42 region and the late burst of speed over the last 400m will lead the champion to clock around 3:38 or so.

Q) Under those circumstances, who’s your pick for the gold medal?

A) I would pick Manuel Olmedo as he has been a 1:45 800m athlete for many years and his change of speed on the closing metres should be lethal for the others. I’m sure he is capable to cover the last lap in 51s.

Q) What about the silver and bronze medals?

A) It’s hard to say, but in my opinion the Spanish athletes will take a couple of medals home. I also consider Baddeley the strongest man from the British squad.

Q) Who do you consider is the greatest 1500m athlete in history?

A) There have been lots of outstanding runners over the years but I think Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj is the greatest.

Q) Do you miss competing as an athlete?

A) No. Life is a succession of phases and now I’m quite busy on different tasks and I’m also a proud father of three girls. Anyway, I still get nervous at the stands whenever a major championships 1500 final takes place and this time won’t be different with three Spaniards aiming for the gold medal here in Barcelona.

Q) You are the current European 1500m record holder with an impressive 3:28.95 clocking set in Zurich back in 1997, who can break your record?

A) I don’t know, but honestly I hope someone is able to lower my time as records are meant to be broken and athletics needs a non-stop improvement in every event, new talents who keep our sport alive and attractive for the athletics fans. If I can choose, I would like my successor as the European record holder is another Spaniard (laughs).