Beijing, athletics, men's triple jump

Olympics: Edwards' shadow provides extra impetus for gold-chasing Idowu

Phillips Idowu
Phillips Idowu came sixth in Sydney when Jonathan Edwards set the current triple jump world record of 18.29m. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

If all goes to plan, Phillips Idowu will walk away from the triple-jump sandpit tonight after one round with his chest puffed out and an Olympic gold medal beckoning. But do not presume his strutting is a sign of arrogance. "I don't do it to psych out other guys," he said. "It's just for me, to make me feel good. It has nothing to do with intimidating the others, my distances should do that enough."

Idowu, 29, has discovered a run of form that has seen him unbeaten all year - realising a World Indoor title - jumps that have made him the only Briton to lead a world-ranking event and given him a confidence to put the past behind him, especially what happened at the last Olympics, when he failed to register a legal jump in the final. "The way it happened in Athens wasn't nice but I don't like to think about it, or even talk about it, now," he said.

In qualifying for tonight his first jump was the best of the competition, 17.44 metres. Even Jonathan Edwards, still the world record-holder, did not always progress to finals in that manner. But for the past 12 months Idowu has worked hard on being right for his Olympic experience. "I am into visualisation," he said. "I have been thinking of every eventuality. I am not a person who allows any negative thoughts to seep into my head. I am really pleased with my performances."

He jumped 17.75m in the winter and since June has dominated the world order outdoors with 17.55m in Greece, a distance he increased to 17.58m at the Olympic trials. It is eight years since a male British athlete won an individual gold at the Games, and the Londoner will hardly need reminding who won it. When Edwards triumphed in Sydney, Idowu was sixth. He knows that, whatever happens tonight, he still has to challenge for Edwards' world record of 18.29m to be seen as the best.

Idowu, who has an outdoor personal best of 17.68m, said: "I am world No1, I am UK No1 but inside I never feel like that is enough because Jonathan is the greatest triple jumper of all time and that is really where I want to get to. Until I have achieved what he has achieved, and surpassed it, Jonathan is always going to be ranked ahead of me. I will always see myself as No2 in the event."

The perception could soon change. "Phillips looked fantastic in qualifying, he couldn't have really asked for a more assured performance," Edwards said. "But his qualifying jump won't really mean a great deal to him now. He's always been a pretty good qualifier but there's a different psychological pressure when you're jumping in the qualifiers than when you are jumping for an Olympic medal.

"In the past, in major outdoor championship finals, he has not produced the best jumps, so there is a little bit of a history there but, that said, this season he has looked fantastic. When you look at the field for this final, there is nobody there who Phillips needs to be scared of."

Nelson Evora of Portugal, who qualified with 17.34m, and Cuba's Arnie David Girat, who progressed with 17.30m, remain his closest threats but the Olympic title is there for Idowu to lose. "If I don't come away with the gold, it's going to be 'Phillips Idowu underperformed'. I've had too many years of hearing that," he mused.

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