PHILLIPS Idowu took a giant leap towards Olympic gold with an imperious victory in the British trials on Sunday. Idowu recorded the longest triple jump of 2008 with his first attempt in Birmingham to claim a fourth national title and underline his status

PHILLIPS Idowu took a giant leap towards Olympic gold with an imperious victory in the British trials on Sunday.

Idowu recorded the longest triple jump of 2008 with his first attempt in Birmingham to claim a fourth national title and underline his status as the country's leading prospect for athletics glory in Beijing.

The 29-year-old, a former pupil at Raine's Foundation School in Bethnal Green, pulled out an opening jump of 17.58m and later landed an effort of 17.57m to claim the title.

Idowu, who added a leap of 17.27m before deciding to call it quits with three attempts remaining, is confident of another triumph in China next month.

He said: "It is always nice to win and to remain undefeated. I feel like Superman. I don't think anyone can stop me. I'm bullet-proof."

The World Indoor champion even predicted that he could shatter Jonathan Edwards' world record on his quest for Olympic glory.

Idowu travels to Crystal Palace for the Aviva Grand Prix next weekend and believes he has a chance to surpass the current mark of 18.29m.

"I can probably put another 80 centimetres to a metre to what I'm doing," he said, adding that "18.40 is not beyond my capabilities if I nail one right."

"I need to remain injury-free and keep progressing and you'll see something special. I'm hoping for a massive jump there [at Crystal Palace].