In recent times Mr Phillips Idowu has become a consummate championship performer and the UK's most reliable athlete with World, European, Commonwealth, World Indoor and European Indoor titles to his name. Until the big one comes around next year, Phillips will have to make do with adding another first to his ever expanding list of achievements - The first ever interview on Jody & Bayo's Athletics Spectacular!!! What a fantastic way to start.
We asked you lot to send us your questions and Phillips was kind enough to answer them for us. Hope you enjoy it. Please get back to us with any comments or suggestions you may have for future interviews. You'll never guess who's next. All will be revealed soon!!!
Having missed the great competition at the Euro indoors, do you wish you’d been there and how would you have done?
No, My coach and I sat down and we had an 18month plan till the Olympics. The two indoor meets we did were purposely late in the indoor season and off a shortened approach, so the performance I produced I was more than pleased with and happy to stick to the plan we had put together. If I had prepared for it, I believe I would have been competitive as I know I am in the shape to jump the winning distances.
Steve
Do you feel he needs to improve on a particular area and if so what?
There are always areas i can improve on, right now we are working on being quick out of the phases and maintaining as much of my speed as possible.
Do you plan to compete in any 100's to keep him sharp this season?
I haven’t competed in any 100's for a few years now, but through biomechanical testing I know my speed is much better than my 100m pb suggests. I'm happy to concentrate on my speed work during training sessions.
Your 100m pb is 10.60 if you trained specifically for it how fast do you think you could have run?
I would like to think if I worked full time on the 100m I could run between 10.3 – 10.4secs.
Does he feel Teddy T will be his big competition this season and who else does he feel will be one to watch?
Teddy will be tough for years to come, which keeps the event fresh, but I don’t particularly watch any of my competitors as there are so many who can pull a surprise, such as Evora, Olsson, Oprea, any of the Cubans. The list goes on.
Photo: AP Flag: J&B's Athletics Spectacular
Jon Mulkeen
People used to say you were inconsistent, yet you've been one of GB's most reliable champs performers in recent years, how much do you thrive off the nay-sayers and use it as motivation? Or do you simply ignore them, go out and perform your best, then laugh at them afterwards?
I know my inconsistency in the past has been due to injuries, so any negative comments I disregard. I've had my longest spell injury free over the last 4 years and the medals speak for themselves. I don’t thrive off the nay sayers or use it as motivation I'm pretty self motivated and will probably be harder on myself than anyone. I do have a little chuckle at those who doubt me though. (Whilst I stand on top of the podium)
What changed to make you Mr Consistency at champs?
As I said before being injury free, a change of coach and understanding clearly what it take to be a great jumper.
Obviously Berlin was your biggest victory to date, but which of your major champs appearances do you feel was the most dramatic and emotional? (The fantastic England duel at the Commonwealths in '02? Commonwealth redemption in '06? Euro/World Indoor golds? Winning Olympic silver? Or beating world-leader Tamgho with a PB in Barcelona? Or does the world title still topple all of these?)
My 1st gold at Comm in Melbourne was very emotional as I had suffered with a lot of injury and was close to giving up the sport. The battle in Beijing was emotional as it was such an intense comp and nail biting till the end. I think my world indoor gold and British record was what kicked off the last few years of success and belief I have big jumps left in the legs, so I’ll choose that.
If you were to focus on the long jump exclusively for one year, how far do you think you could jump?
I have no jumped roughly 8.30m in 2002 comm games trials. I think after a year working purely on that, i would expect roughly the same but with more consistency and hopefully hit and 8.40+.
Why do you think British women aren't as successful as British men in the triple jump? We've only really had Ashia Hansen make a mark on the world stage for the women, but on the men's side there's you, Jonathan Edwards, Keith Connor, Larry Achike, Nathan Douglas, John Herbert, and several other 17m+ guys.
I do not have a clue, it's not like we don’t have the coaches in the UK.
Photo - Alan Mahon
Jack Perryman
When will you break 18m?
Tomorrow! No seriously, I am now working on it, so hopefully 2011. Previously i believed win first, distance second. I have won everything other than the Olympics so this is a good year to work on the distance first approach, and then 2012 back to focus of winning.
Jamie McGann
Have you ever had an 18m jump in practice/or a no jump?
I never come off a full approach in training, so no, and if I had no jumped that far I would never want to know.
Looking Back - What was your first competition in a GB or England vest and what was the experience like?
My 1st senior international was the 2000 Olympics, and I handled it well. I qualified for the final in one jump and finished 6th overall, and picked up a new pb on the way, so it was a great experience for me.
What was your first Jnr international like and can you give any advice on the transition from jnr to senior? You did it very successfully 6th at the OG at 21.
1st junior international was a mess. I was stung by a bee before my 1st jump in the final and jumped a pb off my wrong foot to finish in 4th place. Missing out on a medal by 3cm. My transition from the junior ranks to senior comps wasn't that smooth, I suffered with a lot of injuries between the age of 18-21. But I believed in my ability and was always able to salvage something from the season.
Do you ever dwell on THAT no jump in Athens?
No, things could have been different but due to an officials errors my whole comp was messed up.
J&B
Can you elaborate on this?? The commentary at time was that you’d choked and had four no jumps??? We’d be very interested in hearing your side.
I fouled my 1st jump, and had a big 2nd round jump which would have put me in 1st or 2nd overall. But the official called it a foul and it clearly wasn't on the big screen or TV plus there was no mark on the board. I disputed this with the field referee and he agreed but the officials had already raked the pit so I had no mark to get measured. But was told to go straight back and retake the jump. By that time in such an intense environment, biggest sporting event in the world, i wasn't able to recover enough to do two back to back jumps. Especially after 18months out of the sport with a knee operation.
So my Olympics had pretty much been flushed down the pan by an officials error.
Berlin Gold - Photo: Jody & Bayo
Jamie McGann
How do you feel about the media side of the sport?
It’s part of the job. I try to do as much as I can to promote the sport positively and encourage youngsters to get involved, especially those with a similar upbringing to mine.
You are well recognised for your style as well as ability. Do you think it's important for athletes to 'show' their personality? Is there ever pressure from managers etc to 'sell' yourself?
I think it’s important to be yourself. but you do have a lot of athletes who are successful but quite bland. If you have a character as well as ability it makes the sport more entertaining, which is first and for most, not just to line your pockets or your managers.
How have you managed to deal with injuries in such a gruelling event for more than a decade. Is there any time you competed in severe pain?
A lot of my career I carried injuries, only the last four I can say I jump pain free, but over the past 4 years I understand how to look after my body and do the extra little bits to hold things together.
Ross Jeffs
What is the difference between your training with Aston Moore compared to John Herbert?
One main difference is we do nearly every session one on one. I also understand now what it takes to jump far (maybe through my experience or how Aston communicates with me). Then I have a lot of input into the sessions we do and how it is structured, in order to get the best out of me without risk of injury. Finally Aston has had experience coaching a world record holder which I hope to be soon.
Patriot
What six famous athletes - past or present - would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Allen Johnson – he won an Olympics in his home town in Atlanta 96.
Bob Beamon – I would like to know his state of mind when he broke the world record and if he knew he had such a jump in him.
Daley Thompson – I would like to know how long he thinks it would take me to grow a tash like that.
Andy Turner – We always have good times at parties.
And to be honest I can’t really think of anyone else, If I could I be most likely to invite NBA players. e.g. Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Will you encourage your kids to become professional athletes? And what would you do to promote the sport further and to get more kids involved in athletics in this country?
I wouldn’t encourage them to go into professional sports, but if they chose to I would support them. I will encourage them to be active and be involved in sport as its good for the health and mental wellbeing.
And as far as promoting sport and getting kids involved in the UK, I have worked with an academy in London and personally paid for 5 disadvantaged kids to attend free of charge. As well as giving 20 or more of them the opportunity to attend the Grand Prix meet at Crystal Palace after my euro 2010 victory.
Interviewing Phillips for the IAAF at the Continental Cup Split 2010
Ian Furlong
I you were no good at jumping long distances, what would you be doing?
I would have loved to play basketball for a living, or possibly out of sport work with children, child therapist/psychiatrist.
ivanski
Will we see Christian Olsen in top form again?
I'm sure he will, but nowadays Christian's top form will not be as dominant as it was in the past.
Which of the other jumpers do you admire most - and which (if any) of the others do you get on best with, on the circuit?
I admire a lot of the jumpers on the circuit, to many to mention. A lot have pb's that are better than mine still and anyone who gives me a battle to win titles I have to respect.
I can’t name any one jumper that I get on best with, probably Teddy, as we speak often. outside of competing.
javelin sam
When the big time has passed will you continue in the sport? If so in what capacity, coach, admin, manager, veteran?
I don’t think I will be coaching, I doubt I have enough technical knowledge at a world class level, but possibly grass roots and introducing children to the sport and triple jump.
paul
When you nailed the big jump at the Euros my wife and I celebrated so wildly that we scared the children, and slightly damaged some living room fixtures. Can we send you the bill?
Hahaha, wasn't the victory worth the damage? Apologise to the kids for me, but I do it all for you guys, thanks for the support.
And Thank You Phillips.
