Edwards: No way back for Idowu

Phillips Idowu announced he would be taking a step back from the sport 'for the foreseeable future'
7 August 2013

Jonathan Edwards does not think there is any way back into the British athletics team for Phillips Idowu.

The 34-year-old triple-jumper announced last month he would be taking a step back from the sport "for the foreseeable future".

Idowu has competed only once since last year's Olympics, where he had been among the favourites for gold but failed to make the final.

The Londoner had struggled with injury in the build-up to the Games and there was confusion about whether he would compete or not.

Then head coach Charles van Commenee, with whom Idowu had previously fallen out, dubbed him the invisible man.

Idowu has denied he ever went missing and after competing in Rome in June he declared himself ready to challenge for medals again, only to then turn his back on athletics.

Triple jump world record-holder Edwards said: "At his age and with the problems he had last year, I don't think we will see him again.

"With the injuries and the breakdown in his relationship, not just with Charles van Commenee but his coach Aston Moore and British Athletics, he became very isolated.

"Then he jumped incredibly poorly and people were very critical, and I think it would be very hard for him to come back from that.

"He's not going to be coming back and winning titles like he did before, so I think saying he's hanging his spikes up for a short while is just a staging post to retirement."

Idowu's absence and the lack of other top-class athletes means there will be no British triple-jumpers in the team for the World Championships, which start in Moscow on Saturday.

Edwards said: "It's the first time since 1987 I think that we haven't had anyone so it certainly makes it less interesting to watch, although it's still a very strong competition."

American Christian Taylor is looking to make it three global titles in a row, while France's Teddy Tamgho and Cuban newcomer Pedro Pablo Pichardo appear to be his main competition.

Edwards, part of the BBC's commentary team for the championships, believes Britain can expect to match their Olympic tally of six medals in Moscow despite the absence of injured heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Edwards is particularly excited to see whether 100m runner James Dasaolu can repeat the blistering 9.91 seconds he ran at the trials, since when he has not competed because of injury.

He added: "It's not the strongest team, certainly compared to the Olympics last year. It's missing a few big names and a few people are perhaps not at their best, which is not a big surprise post Olympics.

"That said, there's still a lot to look forward to. I think Mo Farah is in even better shape than last year and going for another double, which would be remarkable.

"The stand-out race will be to see how James Dasaolu runs. It's a lot more open now and he could be in with a chance of a medal.

"Let's hope he's 100 per cent fit - I think the races he's withdrawn from he was probably just being ultra cautious.

"If he can run 9.91 he should comfortably make the final and then it's just about how well he copes with the pressure of being in a 100m final with the likes of Usain Bolt."

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