Idowu vows to continue despite exit
Phillips Idowu was hampered by a trapped nerve
Britain's Phillips Idowu insisted retirement was not on the agenda, despite failing to make it through in triple jump qualifying at the Olympics.
The 33-year-old east London athlete, who is suffering from a trapped nerve, could only manage a best jump of 16.53 metres as he failed to finish in the top 12. The Beijing silver medallist produced a first-round jump of 16.47m and, after fouling in the second, went further with his third, but it was not far enough.
Idowu ended up in 14th place, nine centimetres off 12th, and admitted the disappointment had "not sunk in". He said: "I struggled with some nervy pains and hadn't been 100%, but I always felt that if I was able to come here and be pain free I should be able to replicate what I've done in previous years."
He went on: "My main goal was to be able to be here and be pain free and if I was I felt like the calibre of athlete I am and being such a big occasion that I would be able to pull something special out of the bag. But the timing just wasn't there for me.
"My preparation went well. I've been training every day and working hard. My strength levels and speed are great and I have been able to jump in training so with all of that I felt I was able to come out and put on a decent show but it just wasn't to happen."
All this talk about giving up his place to someone else is bs, the team is selected far in advance and you can't just swap people around a week before. Regardless, whose place was he taking? We didn't even send one other athlete despite having the option to send three!
Every 4 years the Olympics come around and suddenly everyone's an expert.
Your a prat mate!!
you knew you were not fit that is why you hid from everyone as long as you could.
You took the place of somone who could have done something with their effort.
You not only let yourself down but you ket the whole of the GB team and country down.
You would have had more respect had you just admitted you were not fit.
I sincerely hope that they take stock and be clear about any other not being up front. A disgrace and fraud of money.just a selfish arrogant pratt who thought he was better than the rest of the gb setup turns out he is a waste of space and shouldnt be allowed to ever compete for gb again
Mike sums him and his cgharactor up a treat when posting
'.Why, for the funding money full stop. An under achiever, underperformer and underhanded regards the AAA Board.
Time they cut his money entirely, he will quickly crawl back under the rock ....
Yes has wo a bit, never a Johnnathon of course, but when under preasure always bottled iy 100%.
P.M you keep the board informed and have an independant v alueation if one thinks he is coming it. Which he obviously was. It was for the sake of Athletics and his name that keep this fruad afloat.
So don't spout rubbish like that, nor he's excuse of 'Difference of opinions, and not getting on with the boss. So what, prove your selve not a liar! Think any other will be pulled up in their tracks in future and quite rightly so. As for his funding, take it away and let him earn it to get it back. Past glories don't win medal, nor bonus points. Gosh we'll have Ovett back to show the spineless bradly how it's done with great funding next.
