Phillips Idowu's personal best enough to claim gold at European Athletics Championships
Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets athlete Phillips Idowu produced a massive personal best to claim triple gold at the European Athletics Championships.
Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets athlete Phillips Idowu produced a massive personal best to claim triple gold at the European Athletics Championships.
after winning the world title in Berlin last year, the former Raines Foundation School pupil athlete has spent the season in the shadows of France's Teddy Tamgho, who set a 17.98m personal best in New York earlier this year.
However, in difficult conditions, Idowu soared to 17.81m with his fourth attempt to win with ease.
Romania's Marian Oprea claimed silver with Tamgho back in bronze with a best jump of 17.45m.
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"I can't believe it - I'm a champion now - it's great," smiled the east Londoner.
"It's been a tough year but I seem to come alive when I get to the championships. With the way Teddy has been jumping this season I knew that I would need to jump a personal best.
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"People think I'm a lucky athlete but it's not about luck, it's about hard work and people should stop doubting me.
"The aim is to keep getting better year after year and improving my personal best. It's not going to be easy headed towards 2012 to keep improving over the next two years but by then I need to be as close to that 18m mark as I can to win the gold.
"There should be more medals for the British team this week - I didn't feel the pressure I just focussed and I jump better when I'm like that!"
Idowu now holds the World, European and Commonwealth titles and just needs to upgrade his Olympic silver medal from Beijing at London 2012 - although the youthful Tamgho, whose lack of experience showed in Barcelona, is only likely to only get better.
"There is one more medal needed in my career," added Idowu. "I've won them all now apart from the one that really matters and that is two years away.
"I want to be able to retire, pass away, and know that my kids are going to have an Olympic gold medal, a world indoor and outdoor gold medal, a European indoor and outdoor gold medal. I want to leave a legacy for my two kids, so they can look back and say, 'Dad was good at what he did'."
Aviva's support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best.
Watch the Aviva GB & NI Team live in action at the Aviva London Grand Prix.
For more details visit aviva.co.uk/athletics