Greg Rutherford: 'I can still beat any long jumper in the world if I'm in shape'
Greg Rutherford insists he can still beat any long jumper in the world and is relishing the chance to prove any doubters wrong after injury ruined his world title defence last summer.
Rutherford has only jumped competitively three times since claiming bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was ruled out of the London World Championships last year with a series of injuries.
He has since undergone double surgery on his groin and ankle but, despite withdrawing from his Commonwealth Games title defence this April, he remains adamant that he can return to his best.
“Every other jumper in the world knows that, if I’m in shape, I can beat them,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who it is. The world was lit up by Luvo [Manyonga, world champion] last year – he’s an exceptional long jumper who is doing things all of us have been hoping to do during during our careers.
“However, I don’t see anybody as unbeatable and I know that, as long as I’m fit, then I can upset a few. I’ll 100 per cent be aiming to do that.
“Some of the younger Americans have probably already written me off but I love that. It’s another part of the job that I really genuinely enjoy and I am keen to come out there and hopefully scare a few.”
Rutherford is part of an elite group of British athletes to have won Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles. He will have relinquished three of those by the time he defends his European crown in August, but says he is still targeting the chance to win a second Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games aged 33.
“I’m probably hungrier now than I have been for a long time,” he said. “Watching other people win medals and win titles, in my home country as well, that was a bitter pill to swallow so I’m at that point now where I’m very, very keen to just get out there and jump far.
“I’m still good enough to do it, I’m still good enough to win championships and if I can get back to where I was in 2015 and the start of 2016 then there’s no reason why I need to consider retirement yet.
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“Because last year I was in a difficult place with my body it seemed like a natural progression for me to say ‘do you know what I think I’ll probably retire soon’.
“But these were problems that could be fixed by a surgeon and they have been fixed. If all goes well and I can still mix it up with the best in the world then I will 100 per cent go to another Olympic Games.”
Rutherford returns to competitive action at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow on Sunday, February 25, before deciding whether to contest the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham at the start of March.
