Idowu denies injury talk

Phillips Idowu claimed yesterday that he is happy to be the “invisible man” of British athletics as he insisted that injury is not the reason that he has not competed for six weeks.

Olympic triple jump silver medallist Idowu has competed just three times in 2012, with his last appearance coming in 
Eugene, Oregon on 1 June. The 33-year-old struggled to hit top form with leaps of 16.43 metres and 17.05m before seemingly injuring himself when he fouled with his third attempt. He took no further part in the competition. Idowu subsequently withdrew from meetings in Oslo and Paris and the Olympic trials in Birmingham, with UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee declining to clarify Idowu’s situation due to issues of “medical confidentiality”.

However, ahead of his return to competition this weekend in the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, Idowu insisted his lack of competition was merely precautionary so as not to jeopardise his chances of Olympic glory.

“I have not mentioned anything about an injury to be honest,” said the 2009 world champion, who missed out on Olympic gold by just five centimetres in Beijing. “So I have let that rumour mill stir itself and it has given me an opportunity to focus on my preparation for the Games, which I feel has gone really well.

“Every year I never compete in every meet I put down as scheduled. I put my name down as an option for competitions that I may want to do through the year, but there are times when things go really well and you feel like ‘Okay, I can take a step back.’

“In Eugene I pulled out after the third round because it was raining and I slipped on the board. You hit the board, your foot slips, and it kind of sends the fear of God through you. I didn’t want to take any chances.”