Phillips Idowu

Phillips Olaosebikan Idowu (born Birth date|1978|12|30 in Hackney, London) is an English triple jumper. He is the current Commonwealth Games champion, and World and European Indoor champion. He is a member of the London-based Belgrave Harriers athletics club and has been for much of his career. Idowu is known for his eccentric and self-centered personality, sporting a variety of hair colours, an array of facial piercings and trademark booming laugh. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jun/24/olympicgames2008.athletics 'I took control and now I feel unbeatable' | Sport | The Guardian ] ] Despite his successes he has at times been accused of inconsistency [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/athletics/article3182236.ece "Plenty of green shoots but few hints of blossoming superstars"] , "The Times", January 14, 2008] and of failing to fulfil his potential.

Career

Idowu was a talented sportsman at school in both basketball and American football, yet he was most successful as a junior in athletics. In 1997 he came to attention as a triple jumper when he won the English Schools Championships and the under-20s AAA title, rounding off the year by coming fourth in the European Junior Championships. [ [http://www.olympics.org.uk/athletebio.aspx?at=1746 British Olympic Association > Athletes > Phillips Idowu ] ]

His success continued in 2000, when he was ranked in the top 10 triple jumpers in the world and placed sixth in the 2000 Olympic Games. In 2001 he won the European Cup, though later that year his form was found wanting at the World Championships in Edmonton. His first major international medal came when he won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, setting a new personal best of 17.68 m but losing to world record holder and compatriot Jonathan Edwards. Later in 2002 he placed 5th in the European Championships. [iaaf name|id=171962|name=Phillips Idowu]

Injury

A knee injury that required surgery ruled Idowu out of the whole 2003 season. His aim was to return to form in 2004 to compete at the Olympic Games in Athens. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4602969.stm BBC SPORT | Athletics | Idowu eyes gold ] ] Despite his ambition for success in 2004 he failed to deliver at the Olympic Games, posting three no jumps in the final.

Championship success

In March 2006, Idowu triumphed at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, winning gold. However, he failed to maintain this form and once again finished in 5th place at the European Championships later that year.

In 2007, in the absence of world leader Christian Olsson, Idowu beat compatriot Nathan Douglas to gold in the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham. He recorded a championship record jump of 17.56 m, beating Olsson's world-leading jump by 12 cm. [Citation
title = Idowu takes gold in triple jump
newspaper = BBC SPORT
date = 2007-03-03
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/6413583.stm ]

Idowu went on to win the IAAF Golden League Bislett Games in June 2007 with a distance of 17.35 m (56' 11"). By July 2007 he was ranked the number three triple jumper in the world, a new career high.

On March 9, 2008, Idowu won his first world title, taking the gold medal at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain. His jump of 17.75 m also broke the British and Commonwealth Indoor record previously held by his compatriot and former adversary Jonathan Edwards, who presented him with his medal at the ceremony.

Idowu won the men's triple jump title at the 2008 British Olympic Trials with a distance of 17.58 m, at the time the longest (outdoor) jump of 2008. He followed this up with further jumps of 17.57 m and 17.27 m. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7504337.stm |title=Idowu takes title with world's best |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 July 2008] [cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/14/olympicgames2008.athletics |title=Idowu targets world record after taking giant stride to glory |publisher=Guardian online |date=14 July 2008]

Idowu took silver in the men's triple jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics behind World Champion Nelson Évora after arriving at the games as the favourite. His best jump was 17.62 m, achieved in the third round. In an interview with Reuters, Idowu expressed disappointment at having won only silver, though he displayed good humour and also looked forward to the next Olympics in London. [ [http://uk.reuters.com/article/telecomm/idUKSYD18838420080822?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 'There ain't no better athlete than me.' | Olympics | Reuters UK ] ]

References

He felt disappointed with his performance at the Olympics.

External links

*iaaf name|id=171962|name=Phillips Idowu
* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041069/Naked-ambition-Britains-Olympians-strip-prepare-make-history-Beijing.html Olympians strip down as they prepare to make history in Beijing] Photos by award-winning photographer Nadav Kander for Powerade advertising campaign, "The Daily Mail"

Persondata
NAME= Idowu, Phillips
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=British triple jumper
DATE OF BIRTH=1978-12-30
PLACE OF BIRTH=Hackney, London
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=