Phillips Idowu produces leap of gold to soar to triple jump title

This article titled “Phillips Idowu produces leap of gold to soar to triple jump title” was written by Anna Kessel in Barcelona, for The Guardian on Thursday 29th July 2010 20.49 UTC

Phillips Idowu, whoever doubted you were the man to win European gold? All season long the spotlight had been on Teddy Tamgho, France’s 21-year-old triple jump sensation and the new world indoor record holder who pulled off the third longest jump in history when he leapt to 17.98m in New York last month. But last night in Barcelona it was the old master – 10 years Tamgho’s senior – who gave the new kid a lesson in composure and execution.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Idowu who led the competition from start to finish. “It wasn’t easy. It’s been a difficult year and I’m so grateful I came out on top. I’ve worked so hard. My build-up to the championships was not great but I am very happy to have been able to jump consistently today. I’ve suffered a lot of defeats and I’m sure the media thought I didn’t have it in me. But I had to take the knocks and be strong minded.”

Idowu always said he would be “ready to go” when his hair turned red. In Barcelona with a bright red barnet, he let loose a huge personal best in the fourth round of 17.81m – adding 8cm to the distance that won him the world title in Berlin last year. “I knew I had to [jump a PB],” he said. “I knew back in March [at the world indoors] the way Teddy was jumping it would need a big jump to win.”

Alongside him Tamgho, who had achieved so much this year, laboured in frustration. Suddenly the confidence of the youngster, who had announced to Jonathan Edwards that he would break his 15-year-old world record, seemed to elude him.

Last night a fifth-round jump of 17.45m was the best he could manage, giving him the bronze medal, while Marian Oprea of Romania took silver in 17.51m. Disconsolate, Tamgho sank to the track and covered his face.

Idowu declined his final jump of the competition, instead taking a few moments to allow the victory to sink in. His first European medal outdoors, Idowu had never finished higher than fifth place in this competition before. Slowly the smile came and soon he was reeling around the track, flag in hand, finger wagging.

It must have taken huge mental strength not to be swayed by Tamgho’s seemingly insurmountable achievements this year. But back in his adopted home of Birmingham Idowu had refused to panic. A season’s best jump of 17.48m going into the championships seemed meagre, but he promised he would be on his game in time for the final. He was true to his word.

The Hackney boy once known as the erratic and disorderly young pretender to Edwards’ triple jump throne is no more. Having won a major title every year for the past five years – Commonwealth champion, European indoor champion, world indoor champion, world outdoor champion – the father of two has finally mastered consistency.

The only accolades to elude him now are an Olympic title – following the bitter disappointment of a silver medal in 2008 – and the world record. “There’s one more medal in my career I need to win,” said Idowu, “and that’s in 2012.”

In the men’s high jump Martyn Bernard won bronze. The 25-year-old who missed the world championships last year after an ankle operation – and then fled to Ibiza to party – has been brought to heel by the head coach, Charles van Commenee, who threatened to cut off his funding unless he relocated from Liverpool to UK Athletics’ centre of excellence in Lee Valley. Bernard duly obeyed and has reaped the benefits. “Did I mind?” he asked, referring to Van Commenee’s tough stance. “No, not at all. He’s a direct guy and I like that. Less than a year later I’ve got a medal and I’ll improve from that next year.”

Bernard, the Commonwealth silver and European indoor bronze medallist, cleared a season’s best of 2.29m at his first attempt, beating Sweden’s Linus Thornblad into fourth place on countback. Aleksandr Shustov took gold and Ivan Ukhov – a YouTube sensation after his drunken performances two years ago – won silver.

Elsewhere in the competition the British team prospered with a raft of strong semi-final performances to set up the prospect of more championship medals this weekend.

Mo Farah, looked in confident form winning his 5,000m heat. He will be joined in Saturday’s final by Chris Thompson, the man who followed Farah home in the 10,000m. Michael Rimmer was the fastest man through to the 800m final, while training partners Dai Greene and Rhys Williams won their 400m hurdles semi-finals. Marlon Devonish and Christian Malcolm qualified for the 200m final.

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