The Old Raineians' Association
In The News
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The Old Raineians' Association
In The News |
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Idowu aims to stay one jump The Sunday Times - Sport Sunday 14th July , 2002 [Phillips Idowu attended Raine's Foundation from 1990-1997]
Idowu aims to stay one jump ahead after win over Edwards Richard Lewis meets the young triple jumper from London who is determined to build on his uplifting victory over the double world champion PHILLIPS IDOWU is one of the most recognisable athletes in the British team, because his hair is always some fancy colour; for now, it is tangerine. But at the Norwich Union Classic, in Sheffield on the final day of last month, he registered the type of win that he hopes will make him stand out for more than just the dye he uses. After almost five years of trying, Idowu beat Jonathan Edwards in a triple jump competition. "I knew I could achieve it one day, and I was determined that this season would be the year that it happened," says Idowu, the first Briton in five years to defeat Edwards. "I had planned to do it the first time we met, because I knew he would not be expecting anything. "I even attempted to enter meetings earlier in the year that he was in, but for some reason I could not get a place. It was worth the wait. The first opportunity I had, I took it. It was important for my confidence. It puts my face on the map and it means he is not going to go to the Commonwealth Games or European Championships with the gold medal already around his neck. "I have proved my point and shown that I can beat Jonathan. It probably shook a lot of people on the day, but I have proved to myself that he is beatable." Idowu was a junior when he first competed against Edwards in 1997. "It was at Crystal Palace and he was beaten then too, by Francis Agyepong," Idowu continues. "Over the past few years he has been able to come into competitions, take one or two jumps, and win, and not have the amount of pressure that he might have now." Don't get the impression that Idowu, who lives in Southgate, north London, is a brash youngster who suddenly believes that having beaten the Olympic and double world champion once, he can do it as a matter of routine. If anything, he is totally the opposite: quietly spoken, occasionally ending a sentence with roaring laughter, precise in his preparation, and realistic. "It is all well and good being talked about as being a great athlete, or saying you can do this or that, but I am 23 now, I am not a little boy any more, we have had enough of the 'potential' stuff," insists the London-born Belgrave Harrier. "The first step was to beat the best in the world, which I did in Sheffield; now it is to build and progress from here." Order was restored when Edwards beat him to win the competition at the Golden League in Paris, but having been selected for this month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Idowu aims to book his place in Munich when he competes in the Norwich Union European trials and AAA championships today. Edwards is scheduled to miss the event, but it gives Idowu the chance to confirm his position as the No 2 in the country, less than two years after he finished sixth in the Sydney Olympics in his first senior international competition. Even though he has not legally jumped within 57cm of Edwards, who is the world No 1 with 17.75m this season, Idowu is ranked third in the Commonwealth behind Leevan Sands with 17.50m. His personal best is 17.33m from last year, and although Edwards jumped only 17.06m when he was beaten in Sheffield, Idowu says: "I started the competition well and he was always chasing me. That was significant for me. I need to learn by all these experiences." Idowu began jumping in 1995, the year that Edwards first won the world title and took the world record to the 18.29m level that it still stands at today. But he says: "I did not start because I was inspired by what Jonathan did in that year. I had actually forgotten it was in 1995 that he jumped that far. "I was coming to the end of my schooling and was not really sure what I wanted to do; I did not want an ordinary job, so I thought about pursuing a career in sport." At school he excelled at basketball and American football, which was no surprise, because he is 6ft 3in tall. But his lanky frame, which might not be the best build for an event in which speed, a light touch and a soft landing are key points, was a bit of a shock to him. "I never expected to end up so tall," he says. "It all seemed to happen one summer holiday - I just shot up. "It can be a disadvantage if you are not aware of the space around you when you jump, because your legs can be all over the place. "At first I did not have the strength to jump the way I can. I had long 'levers', but I was weak. But I have been blessed with speed, an advantage that carries me through my jumps." His best speed over 100m is 10.81sec, respectable enough for a triple jumper, compared with Edwards, who has been recorded at 10.48sec. Idowu will face competition this afternoon from Larry Achike, the Commonwealth champion who missed out on making the team for Manchester, and Tosin Oke, who was the top Englishman in the Commonwealth trials. It should be an outstanding competition. The 200m final may be the best race of today's last session of the championships. Darren Campbell will be chasing not only a place in the top three but a performance to confirm his fitness for the Commonwealth Games. As for Idowu, he has his sights on the best summer of his career. "But I won't be dyeing my hair gold until I have a medal to match," he says. He hopes the wait will not be too long. Copyright © 2002 The Sunday Times |
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